Major Pettigrew's Last Stand Audiobook By Helen Simonson cover art

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

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Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

By: Helen Simonson
Narrated by: Bill Wallis
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Major Ernest Pettigrew (Ret’d) is not interested in the frivolity of the modern world. Since his wife Nancy’s death, he has tried to avoid the constant bother of nosy village women, his grasping, ambitious son, and the ever spreading suburbanisation of the English countryside, preferring to lead a quiet life upholding the values that people have lived by for generations - respectability, duty, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But when his brother’s death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs Ali, the widowed village shopkeeper of Pakistani descent, the Major is drawn out of his regimented world and forced to confront the realities of life in the 21st century.

©2010 Helen Simonson (P)2016 Audible, Inc. Genre Fiction Literary Fiction
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If you could sum up Major Pettigrew's Last Stand in three words, what would they be?

Compassionate, creative and challenging

What was one of the most memorable moments of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand?

I have to say that the beginning of the story, where Major Pettigrew and Mrs Ali meet is quite wonderful. He, dressed in his wife's clematis covered housecoat - she collecting the paper money - and both as embarrassed as anything because they are so out of context.

Yet at the same time there is an immediate sympathy between them in their mutual loss of spouse, magnified so much more for Major Pettigrew by the sudden loss of his brother.

What about Bill Wallis’s performance did you like?

I think he managed to combine the best narration with a good speed of reading so that the story moved at an acceptable pace.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

From Lahore and Cambridge they came.....

Any additional comments?

This is a charming story that turns class and age assumptions upside down. The main characters are well drawn and the basic story moves well and covers some unexpected ground.

Some of the minor characters are a little less believable and seem to be portraying a character trait rather than being a whole person.

Overall, this is a good read/listen and would make a gorgeous film, should anyone take the option ever.

All's Well That Ends Well

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Looked for more from the author and disappointed there is now much available. This most excellent author drew me in and left me wishing i could spend more time in her creative eloquent company and that of her main characters. Left me cheering them on until the end

Exceptionally well written, rich characters, engaging plot, full bodied story

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It tells a wonderful and clever yarn about parochial Britain. It weaves intergenerational and racial considerations intricately into the text. I found it very engaging and entertaining. The reader is excellent and easy to listen to. He changes his voice to represent each different character which heightens the listening experience. Well done.

Excellent little book

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As an expatriate Brit, living in Africa, I LOVED this book for the beautiful descriptions of English village life, the countryside, and the quirky eccentricities of the older generation of English society. A gentle story of love in life’s “Autumn years”, interwoven with the harsher elements of family greed, racial prejudice & snobbery – but with deft touches of humour to lighten the gloom of humanity behaving badly. Beautifully written & a perfect choice of reader – I immediately looked on Audible.com for books featuring the author (none) & narrator (lots – hurray!). Heartily recommended.

An absolute delight

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A British Major, all the stereotypes well set, keeps his honour by keeping his old, well-formed ethics in action. A warm and wise and witty read that kept me listening when I should have been working, and listening again to take it all in, again. Delicious.

A Briton's eye view of Britain now.

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