'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' by Winifred Watson

Fiction - paperback; Persephone Books; 234 pages; 2005.

"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (1938) is an enchanting version of Cinderella, and the story of its re-printing by Persephone Books is also a kind of fairytale," writes Henrietta Twycross-Martin in the preface to this quite remarkable book.

According to Twycross-Martin, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was her mother's favourite book and she, herself, read it as a teenager. When she discovered that Persephone Books was seeking title suggestions, she took her mother's battered copy to the London office and the book was reprinted in 2000.

If I ever happen to meet Twycross-Martin I will probably hug her for rescuing a truly wonderful, uplifting and inspiring story that would otherwise have been lost forever. Now, thanks to her efforts, a whole new generation of readers can experience one of literature's secret gems. For that is the best way of describing Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day -- a gem.

I read the book in two sittings, but I wanted to drag it out longer because I couldn't bear it to end. I've never quite read anything like it. Joyous without being cloying, light-hearted and fun without being frothy, are just two ways of summing it up.

The Cinderella-like story revolves around a downtrodden middle-aged governess called Miss Pettigrew, who is on the brink of homelessness. When her employment agency accidentally sends her to the home of a young woman seeking a new maid, Miss Pettigrew gets caught up in a day that changes her life forever.

By any stretch of the imagination Miss Pettigrew and her potential employer, the glamorous cabaret singer Miss LaFosse, should not get on. They come from completely different backgrounds, completely different generations and are poles apart when it comes to social mores and morals. But what ensues is an immediate 'chemistry' that bolsters Miss Pettigrew's confidence and has her doing things she's never done before: donning make-up, getting dressed up to go to a party, downing cocktails and dancing at a nightclub. She also plays match-maker and sorts out numerous lover's tiffs. All in all, she becomes the star of the show and it's wonderfully upbeat stuff. You can't help but cheer her on!

Throughout the book Winifred Watson's writing is confident and remarkably modern. The dialogue crackles and sparkles and drives the narrative forward without wasting a word, as does the structure in which each chapter is divided into hourly time periods.

My only quibble is that there's a couple of politically incorrect references to Jews and foreigners, probably indicative of the time in which the book was written, but if you ignore them this is pretty much a perfectly written tale about one woman's second chance at life. Do add it to your collection if you're looking for something a little on the enchanting side.

Comments

[Equiano]

Yay! So glad you liked it - isn't it just perfect for when you're feeling poorly (which I think was what you were looking for at the time). I agree with you about Jewish comments - really jarred in an otherwise wonderful book.

I haven't quite finished it yet myself, but recommend Persephone's THE MAKING OF A MARCHIONESS by Frances Hodgson Burnett as your next stop in entertaining books about feisty heroines.

And just to whet your appetite - Persephone are having a sale at their shop next Tuesday!

[kimbofo]

Equinano, thank-you so much for recommending this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've got two days holiday next week, so may take myself off to Persephone for a pre-Christmas treat!

[Elaine Simpson-Long]

This is one of my favourite Persephone Books, witty, delightful and guaranteed tolift one's spirits and all beautifully illustrated with wonderful sparky black and white drawings. A gem.
Making of a Marchioness another of my most favourite Persephones. Please look out for another one by FH Burnett The Shuttle coming out in March 2007 which I have been lobbying Nicola to reprint for about two years. Hooray! May I also recommend my favourite Persephone of them all, The Homemaker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. I had better stop now or else the list will be too long

[kimbofo]

Elaine, I don't know who Nicola is, but I assume she works at Persephone, so congratulations on some successful lobbying! Will keep my eye out for "The Shuttle".

[S. Mandell]

An interesting book--one that I think is subtler than the reviewer thinks. Miss LaFosse and the others inhabit a world (the theater and club scene in preWar London)--that is populated by Jews--a fact that Miss Pettigrew fails to realize. Her remarks about Jews are met with indifference because both Miss LaFosse and Miss DuBarry know that Miss Pettigrew is out of her depth. She is, after all, quite provincial. The final irony comes at the end of the book: Miss Pettigrew's new beau is Joe Blomfield is clearly a Jewish. It would seem that Winifred Watson is having a bit of fun with Miss Pettigrew as well as the reader.

[Katherine]

This is one of my favorote books! An absolute gem. I'm so glad it was reprinted (and the illustrations are wonderful).