Major Ernest Pettigrew is perfectly content to lead a quiet life in the sleepy village of Edgecombe St Mary, away from the meddling of the locals and his overbearing son. But when his brother dies, the Major finds himself seeking companionship with the village shopkeeper, Mrs Ali. Drawn together by a love of books and the loss of their partners, they are soon forced to contend with irate relatives and gossiping villagers. The perfect gentleman, but the most unlikely hero, the Major must ask himself what matters most: family obligation, tradition or love?

Funny, comforting and heart-warming, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand proves that sometimes, against all odds, life does give you a second chance.

An enchanting, humorous and heart-warming novel set in an English village

A Richard & Judy Book Club selection

About the Author
Helen Simonson is an Englishwoman who spent her teenage years in a small village in East Sussex, near Rye. A graduate of the London School of Economics, she recently completed an MFA at Stony Brook Southampton. Her short stories and essays have been featured in various publications and broadcast on radio. A longtime resident of Brooklyn, New York, Helen is currently living in the Washington D.C. area with her husband and two sons. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is her first novel.

Reviews
'A beautiful little love story ... told with skill and humour' * Alexander McCall Smith *
'A wise comedy of manners proves that loving well is the best revenge ... This delightful debut is as much a gently P.C. look at the British class system tucked inside a sly comedy of manners as it is a love story' * Oprah magazine *
'It's gentle and charming, but these words can't convey the slow-burning pleasure of this novel' * The Times *
'A charming, funny and absorbing debut' * Wendy Holden, Daily Mail *



Book Information
ISBN 9781408809556
Author Helen Simonson
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 276g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 24mm