Preview
  • Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

  • A Novel
  • By: Helen Simonson
  • Narrated by: Peter Altschuler
  • Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (4,624 ratings)

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Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

By: Helen Simonson
Narrated by: Peter Altschuler
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Publisher's summary

You are about to travel to Edgecombe St. Mary, a small village in the English countryside filled with rolling hills, thatched cottages, and a cast of characters both hilariously original and as familiar as the members of your own family. Among them is Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired), the unlikely hero of Helen Simonson's wondrous debut. Wry, courtly, opinionated, and completely endearing, Major Pettigrew is one of the most indelible characters in contemporary fiction, and from the very first page of this remarkable novel he will steal your heart.

The Major leads a quiet life valuing the proper things that Englishmen have lived by for generations: Honor, duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But then his brother's death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and her as the permanent foreigner. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of culture and tradition?

©2010 Helen Simonson (P)2010 Random House
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Editorial reviews

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, author Helen Simonson’s wry, perceptive debut novel about love, the British class system, and family obligations, genially unfolds amid a quaint, leafy English village, tweedy and provincial as any Miss Marple mystery, drafty vicarage and all. Edgecombe St. Mary is home to retired widower Major Ernest Pettigrew, a courtly, roguish martinet whose predictable daily order cracks when he loses his heart to Mrs. Ali, a genteel local Pakistani shopkeeper with “crisp enunciation”, who shares both his devotion to Kipling and the loss of a cherished spouse.

As narrated by Peter Altschuler, 68-year-old Major Pettigrew is a snippy educated snob with a posh accent and sentimental streak. Altschuler inhabits the Major as a man who telegraphs disappointment in Roger, his drippy banker son, through throat-clearings and stutters. But it’s his reading of complicated Mrs. Ali that truly elevates this book. Altschuler articulates her quiet, ruminating spirit and cautious nature by slowing down his own conversational flow. There is deliberateness and intimacy to Mrs. Ali reflected in her low, melodious speech and tinkling laughter. Her insecurities and droll humor sand down the Major’s prickliness and humanize his peevishness. Mrs. Ali, it turns out, is as funny and flawed as the rest of us.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand is wistful and rolling, only gradually revealing the origins of blemishes in one’s family life. Roger’s social climbing, hinted at by Altschuler through his slick use of his father, gives way to a more nuanced explanation of the son’s ambition. And when the Major compares Mrs. Ali to other village dames, noting that she’s “a butterfly to their scuffle of pigeons”, you get the sense that Major Pettigrew, crusty, old soul, is meant to bust out flowery paeans to Mrs. Ali, off-key, certainly, but authentic, nonetheless. Nita Rao

What listeners say about Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The world needs more novels like this

This is a humorous, gentle well-written comedy of manners, nothing trite about it. There's no angst or violence or silly bodice ripping. Although a light read, it's still in touch with reality ( especailly that of "polite" prejudice of many kinds). The novel can say that you're never too old for love without sounding like a hallmark card. Reading this novel won't change your life, but it sure can brighten up a gloomy day or soothe the progress of a head cold. May the author write on and on. (Note if you dislike a Brit character who feels "assaulted by American vowels," this may not be for you - there are lots of pride and prejudices in all the lovely, flawed characters.)

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68 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Very Interesting!

I enjoyed this book; learning the mores and practices of this class of society was very enlightening -- as well as all their prejudices. The reader was very expressive, and the author was very insightful in describing these complex relationships.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Too broad for my taste

Had the narrator not underlined the humor so emphatically I would have enjoyed this novel more - it came highly recommended and I had high expectations. I enjoyed the story, but the reading was too broad for my taste.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I liked it, but surprised so many others do too...

The dry, witty comments of Major Pettigrew as he watches cultures, class status, generations, genders, traditions and values collide over a cup of tea make this a delightful book. Honestly, my husband wouldn't listen to 5 minutes, but I enjoyed watching the Major reluctantly evolve. Insightful writing.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Major Success

Ostensibly, this is a senior love story, but it is much,much more. Major Pettigrew, and he insists upon the honorific, is a stogy widower in a remote English village who is forced to come to terms with a spoiled, ladder-climbing son, a widowed Pakistani merchant, the death of his brother, radical change in his beloved town, a sullen young Muslim, the annual play put on by his elite club, and his own pretensions.

The author writes crisply, empathically, and makes us care for her characters. She allows us, along with the Major, to question our values and dares us to make the decisions that, while not popular, make us happy.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful

This is a wonderful out-of-the ordinary novel. The characters are charming. I highly recommend it. The narrator is good, except when trying to fake a Pakistani accent.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Wonderful Book

I do not use the term lightly when I say the narration of this Audible book is superb. Mr. Pettigrew's Last Stand is a touching and pleasant read. It is written from an older, well seasoned man's perspective as he goes about simply living his life. There are few novels of daily life, in its routine, that are from a man's point of view. Major Pettigrew' story is told through his mind and heart, this is one of the many reasons I so enjoyed the book. There are no scenes bigger than life, yet all of man's, and woman's, emotions seem to be touched upon. There is loss and loneliness, tenderness, love, a little greed, much ' English ' pride, an abundance of humor and a few moments of cliff hanging suspense. There are a few trials and triumphs of the generations, each trying for closeness and independence. I highly recommend this book for a relaxing, enjoyable listening experience. I feel there is nothing to offend a reader, no fowl language, no offensive sex scenes and no trying to push a message or agenda. What a relief!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Charming

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a warm and funny story. Understated, but amusing.
The narrator, Peter Altschuler, is excellent and greatly contributed to the pleasure of this listen.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

The narrator made the book come alive. Totally entertaining! You have to like British humor.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable. Hated for it to end.

Peter Altschuler was an integral part of my enjoyment of this book. I think he was Major Pettigrew in another life! I loved the characters and their development. A couple of the plot lines were a bit overwrought but not enough to distract. A delightful listen.

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