5 POINTS ON H.E.BATES

 1. H.E. Bates came from a working class background, and his formal education ended when he left school.

2. He completed his first novel, THE TWO SISTERS,  while working in  a warehouse for a meagre wage.

3. H.E. Bates was the first writer ever to be commissioned in the Armed forces, in order to produce short stories.

4. The products of these war years were bestsellers, FAIR STOOD THE WIND FOR FRANCE and FLYING OFFICER X

5. THE PURPLE PLAIN, THE JACARANDA TREE and THE SCARLET SWORD turned him into an International figure.