I read some delightful books years ago by an English lady (C. 1940s) that were about farm life from the perspective of the animals...not children's books. One was from the viewpoint of the badgers, one the draft horses. There were many books, so she must have been quite prolific and famous...they were so sweet, I would love to find them again, but can't remember titles or author. Any suggestions? Thanks from Alabama.

Well, M. M. Kaye was born and raised in India, but of English parents. Ngaio Marsh is from New Zealand, although her detective is British I found this when I googled "Japanese mystery writers": Another very well known and admired writer is Shizuko Natsuki who has gained an international reputation for her work. Many of her novels reflect Japanese family life. A number of her books have been translated and published in English including, Murder at Mount Fuji (Ballantine, N.Y., 1987) and The Obituary Arrives at Two O'clock ( Ballantine, N.Y., 1988). Miyake Miyabe is a younger, distaff writer whose novel, All She was Worth (Kodansha International, Tokyo, 1997) is a fascinating examination of a murder in a consumer-crazed society. The late Takagi Akimitsu was enormously popular for his mysteries focused on corruption in the business world - The Informer (Anthos Publishers, Queensland, Australia) and No patent on Murder (Playboy Press, 1977). He also wrote The Tattoo Murder Case (Soho press, N.Y., 1999) and Honeymoon to Nowhere (Soho press, N.Y., 1999), both rather grim and bloody tales. One of the more prolific writers is Masako Togawa who specializes in psycho-sexual suspense stories. A number of her books are available in English including Slow Fuse (Pantheon, N.Y., 1995); The Master Key (Simon Grove, N.Y., 1985); and The Lady Killer (Simon Grove, N.Y., 1986). Ms. Togawa is also a nightclub singer and entertainer. An example of a bloody and ghostly murder mystery that is well written and riveting can be found in the Togakushi Legend Murders (Charles Tuttle, Vt., 1994) by Yasuo Uchida.

Thank you Frances and Janalyn! These "senior moments" are killing me! Now I can't even do a proper google search :( I did find in the advanced search mode on audible.com that you can enter a name for narrator, which turned up two Shakespeare plays that she's involved in, so thankyou very much! Now over to the movie forum to find out what films she's appeared in!

Here's what the romance reader's board turned up: ": I can remeber this and I think this is the book you are looking for by Cathy Maxwell : WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE : Avon Books, 1998 - ISBN 0-380-79709-7 : Orphaned and virginal Eden is slated to become the latest "treasure" in a lasivious sultan's harem, when she escapes her prison ship during a violent storm. Washed ashore on the coast of England, she is greeted by jubilant townsfolk who asked the sea to send a bride for the handsome, unwed Earl of Penhollow. But can he find happiness with a beautiful maiden who has been taught to mistrust all men?"