Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Feb 28, 2011
Author: Helen Simonson
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperback
Publication Date: 2011 Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-8129-8122-3
What a lovely, genteel story of two people who grow in affection toward each other, even with the disapproval of their friends and family. Of course, the story is very proper and British so the disapproval is kept as polite and pursed of lip as possible.
Major Pettigrew has been on his own for 6 lonely years since his wife passed away. He has known Mrs. Ali for several years, ever since she and her husband took over the little store in town. He remembers that her husband died just a year or two before. They have nodded and smiled at each other out of politeness but never have their conversations had substance.
On the day that Major Pettigrew receives a call that his brother has died, Mrs. Ali happens to show up at his door to collect paper money. She knows immediately things are off. Soon they find themselves conversing as they never have before and realize how much they have in common... and how lonely they both are as their children and family members seem to forget that they exist.
A very lovely story of two people overcoming prejudice, ageism and and the pursed lips of others who feel that at a certain age you should sit, behave nicely, be quiet and wait to pass on your inheritance to others.
Major Pettigrew and Mrs. Ali decide to show them all how wrong they are!
