Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel

Helen Simonson

Mar 2010 · Sold by Random House

About this ebook

Written with a delightfully dry sense of humour and the wisdom of a born storyteller, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand explores the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of family obligation and tradition.

When retired Major Pettigrew strikes up an unlikely friendship with Mrs. Ali, the Pakistani village shopkeeper, he is drawn out of his regimented world and forced to confront the realities of life in the twenty-first century. Brought together by a shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship on the cusp of blossoming into something more. But although the Major was actually born in Lahore, and Mrs. Ali was born in Cambridge, village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and her as a permanent foreigner. The Major has always taken special pride in the village, but will he be forced to choose between the place he calls home and a future with Mrs. Ali?

BONUS: This edition contains a Major Pettigrew's Last Stand discussion guide.

Ratings and reviews

This book made me happy from the first page to the last. I've been awake for two nights trying to finish it, yet cursing the fact that it was rapidly coming to a close. This is a delightful story of love. Yes, the protagonist is 68 years old, but you'll soon discover that neither he, nor love has an age limit. Dear Author, please allow Major Pettigrew and Mrs. Ali live on.

With serious message reflecting the inclusion struggles of our modern world. Lovely descriptions of life in English cottages and village

I wasn't sure I'd be interested, as I love a good murder mystery. But, I was greatly surprised to find that I looked forward to finding out how it ended! I'm glad I gave it a go.

About the author

Helen Simonson was born in England and spent her teenage years in a small village in East Sussex. A graduate of the London School of Economics and former travel advertising executive, she has lived in America for the last two decades. A longtime resident of Brooklyn, she now lives with her husband and two sons in the Washington, D.C., area. This is her first novel.