Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Persephone Classics) - Books (Winifred Watson, Paperback)

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Customer Reviews of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (Persephone Classics)

MJ
UK
21st November 2008

Delicious
Such a delicious fairytale. One of those books that leaves you with a big sense of loss when you've finished it and drives you to a bookshop in search of titles by the same author (unfortunately there aren't any others). Vivid, funny and utterly unputdownable. Immerse yourself - it's like having a long bubble bath with a chilled bottle of champagne by your side.

Muppet
London
9th November 2008

Fabulous
This is a perfect book for escaping from the humdrum life of the credit crunch era - it's heartwarming and sweet, funny and well written.

I bought this (and Someone at a Distance, Dorothy Whipple) in an airport bookshop, having never heard of either author, and am delighted to have done so.

It was published in 1938, and tells of glamour, decadence (well, 1930s decadence!) through the eyes of a downtrodden (and not very good!) nursery maid who happens upon the sparkling life of (gasp!) nightclub Miss La Fosse by happy accident.

It's a bit Breakfast at Tiffany's meets Enid Blyton - delightful!

J. Minogue
UK
4th November 2008

feel good fantasy
'Miss Pettigrew pushed open the door of the employment agency and went in as the clock struck a quarter past nine.'

The original line drawings are delightful in this hour by hour description of Miss Pettigrew's day. It's apt it should be revived in the age of the makeover and personal assistants to celebrities - but I think the real reason for its success is the same kind of feel good factor we get from 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Miss Pettigrew is saved from poverty and embraces life to the full once more.

Suzanne
London
31st October 2008

Old Fashioned Charm
What a charming, entertaining book written in 1938. The story of Miss Pettigrew a working class lady who goes along from her job agency to an interview for a job as a governess. Due to a mix up and no-one actually questioning her as to why she is on the door step of the glamorous Miss La Fosse, Miss Pettigrew gets totally swept away into the life for one day and night of the beautiful Miss La Fosse (a woman ahead of her time) Dubious, unsuitable man friends, cocaine, lovely frocks and night clubs all feature. In some ways it is quite sad that Miss Pettigrew has never experienced any excitement,love or attraction to the opposite sex in her life that the lovely Miss La Fosse takes for granted. But she is given a chance to taste this rather decadent, art deco lifestyle. Miss Pettigrew brings her wisdom and experience of employers with her and uses this to great affect when dealing with Miss La Fosse's friends. I loved this book and it was a relief to read something frothy,frivolous and with a happy ending. The book is filled with the original illustrations which sets the scene & gets you totally caught up in the story. Highly recommended to cheer you up!

donnamcmanus
London
14th October 2008

A feel good book!
This really was a lovely read and leaves you with a big smile on your face at the end. I won't go over the plot, as so many other reviewers have described it so well already. Suffice to say that Miss Pettigrew starts the day as one person and ends it as another.

It just goes to show you what can happen in the space of one day!