Overview

Recently widowed, Winne, 84, was in need of some companionship. Someone to help with the weekly food shop and offer tips on the crossword. Ben, 34, was looking for a new housemate. As the UK was locked down in 2020, Ben and Winnie's lives interwove, forming an unlikely friendship, where lessons were learnt (heat the red wine in the oven with the plates; preserve or pickle whatever you can; never throw anything away) and grief, both personal and that of a nation, was explored. Charting both their time together, and the details of Winnie's life that are shared with Ben in fragments, The Marmalade Diaries, from the author of The Gran Tour, is a very human exploration of home, of the passage time, of the growing relationship between an odd couple, told with warmth, wit and candour.

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9781785788130

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Reviews

Charming, touching and very very funny. * Jenny Colgan * Displays a keen eye for the humour of everyday life ... underneath it all is the wonderful story of two people born half a century apart, learning lessons from each other. * Daily Mail * The biggest compliment I can pay Aitken is he's a biographer worthy of this extraordinary, ordinary woman ... The result is that when the book comes to its poignant end, you feel you will miss Winnie, almost as much as Aitken will. * Daily Express * Poignant and witty, this is a treat. * Publishers Weekly *

Charming, touching and very very funny * Jenny Colgan * Displays a keen eye for the humour of everyday life ... underneath it all is the wonderful story of two people born half a century apart, learning lessons from each other. * Daily Mail * A wonderful read ... Ben writes with wit and charm. * Choice magazine, Book of the Month *

Charming, touching and very very funny * Jenny Colgan * Displays a keen eye for the humour of everyday life ... underneath it all is the wonderful story of two people born half a century apart, learning lessons from each other. * Daily Mail * The biggest compliment I can pay Aitken is he's a biographer worthy of this extraordinary, ordinary woman ... The result is that when the book comes to its poignant end, you feel you will miss Winnie, almost as much as Aitken will. * Daily Express *

Charming, touching and very very funny * Jenny Colgan * Displays a keen eye for the humour of everyday life ... underneath it all is the wonderful story of two people born half a century apart, learning lessons from each other. * Daily Mail *

Charming, touching and very very funny * Jenny Colgan * Displays a keen eye for the humour of everyday life ... underneath it all is the wonderful story of two people born half a century apart, learning lessons from each other. * Daily Mail * Warm, funny and perceptive -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *

Charming, touching and very very funny * Jenny Colgan *

Author Information

Ben Aitken was born under Thatcher, grew to 6ft then stopped, and is an Aquarius. He is the author of four books: Dear Bill Bryson, A Chip Shop in Poznan, The Gran Tour ('Both moving and hilarious', Spectator) and The Marmalade Diaries.

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