Winifred Watson

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is about a down-on-her-luck, middle-aged governess who is sent by an employment agency to the wrong address: instead of a household of unruly children, she encounters a glamorous night-club singer named Miss LaFosse. Over a period of twenty-four hours her life is changed - forever. 

The Guardian asked: 'Why has it taken more than half a century for this wonderful flight of humour to be rediscovered? Pure Cinderella fantasy farce with beaus, bounders, negligées and nightclubs - Miss Pettigrew's blossoming is a delight to observe.' The Daily Mail liked the book's message - 'that everyone, no matter how poor or prim or neglected, has a second chance to blossom in the world,' while in The Shops India Knight described Miss Pettigrew as 'the sweetest grown-up book in the world and Tracy Chevalier agreed that 'Miss Pettigrew is irresistible, a perfect mix of wistfulness and joy, substance and froth.'

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Miss Pettigrew, a governess looking for work, is sent by mistake to the home of Delysia LaFosse, a glamorous nightclub singer involved with three different men and is invited to stay after offering Miss LaFosse common sense advice about her love life.

Miss Pettigrew lives for a day

fira

   "It looks," said Miss Pettigrew cautiously, "very like a Beecham's Powder. Very good, I understand, for nerves, stomach and rheumatism."

Gillian Rose

A charming little novel! I also enjoy this movie but loved getting more details about the characters.

A governess is sent by an employment afency to the wrong address, where she encounters a glamourous night-club singer, Miss LaFosse.

Lucia Correa

4 Stars for the book, 5th star for the narrator, Frances McDormand)

A fun book written in 1938, that takes place in London and is the basis of the 2008 film with Frances McDormand as Miss Pettigrew and Amy Adams as the nightclub singer, Delysia Lafosse. LaFosse was an American in the film. Pettigrew, a 40 yr old spinster who until now lived a sheltered and uneventful life. She is an out of work governess who is sent to Delysia's for a job. Pettigrew is caught in the whirlwind of the glamorous, Delysia. Delysia befriends Pettigrew and takes her on an entertaining adventure. A day in the life of Delysia, so to speak. It is told from Pettigrew's POV and it is interesting to see how much she grows and changes in a day. We also see the effect Pettigrew has on Delysia. 

A fun book, with excellent narration by McDormand. At times she sounded quite like Amy Adams when voicing Delysia. As is often the case whenever you compare the book with the movie, I thought the book was much better but I will still enjoy watching the movie. When I watch a movie or read a book it was based on, I try to see them as separate entities. Otherwise you will surely be disappointed. I highly recommend the audiobook and the movie. Just be aware they different in many ways but just as fun. Or as one GR reviewer stated - the movie manages to catch and reflect the spirit of the book.

Irene Alegre

That was a lovely book. Literally lovely. It was light, funny, charming. Yes, it is not modern, and it can somewhat offend the feminist mind, but I think it's best to read it for what it is: a frivolous comedy about a middle-aged dull woman living the life of the rich and famous... for a day.

Kali Olson

When the film version of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was released in 2008 and a new edition of the book was printed, one critic wrote, “Why has it taken more than half a century for this wonderful flight of humor to be rediscovered?” That critic had a point—Winifred Watson’s captivating tale of how the middle-aged, out-of-touch, ex-governess Miss Pettigrew spends a glamour-filled day with the fetching but flighty nightclub singer Delysia La Fosse is a story most of us have never heard. Pre-World War II London is full of flash and glitter, Delysia’s many entanglements with men are dizzying, and we enjoy the surprises, triumphs, and revelations of the day right along with the wonder-filled Miss Pettigrew. The movie that put this little book back on the map is a fine adaptation starring Frances McDormand as Miss Pettigrew and Amy Adams as Delysia. Some of the action in the book is toned down for the film (references to drug use, such as they are, are deleted) and the romance is played up, but both the film and book are sure to brighten up any day.

Sarah Escorsa

This is such a delightful read, I loved it from beginning to end! I've been reading so many books lately that I wished would have been shorter but with Miss Pettigrew I wish the book would have been much longer:) 

I can't believe I came across this charming, beguiling, uplifting, feel good tale by pure chance, it must have been my lucky day! This became an instant classic to me after the first few pages. I just love Watson's writing, the way she portrays the characters and their feelings. Miss Pettigrew really is a gem and such a refreshing read! It has been such a long time since I last felt so excited about a book and it's such a fantastic feeling!

I'm aware that this review doesn't make much sense and isn't very constructive but this books is simply great so there isn't much more to say about it:)

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

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