• 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 (4,600 ratings)

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Major Pettigrew's Last Stand  By  cover art

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

By: Helen Simonson
Narrated by: Peter Altschuler
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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

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

What listeners say about Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

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    4 out of 5 stars

FINALLY a great audiobook!

Overall I loved this book, despite some conveniences in wrapping up the loose ends of the story toward the end. The narrator is a dream to listen to after I've tried several other audiobooks with disappointment. He is right up there with Jim Dale, whom I am also a fan. The main character makes a wonderful journey into what is important to him regarding family, tradition, his community, and his love life. I enjoyed growing with him and thinking about the same things while I listened. I am filled with warmness and hope. I recommend this one with joy!

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    2 out of 5 stars

Sometimes funny, but mostly frustrating.

The humor was charming, but I was pretty disappointed with Major Pettigrew throughout most of the story. Of course, I understand that this is a novel about growth, but it annoyed me how long that took. Many insufferable characters that were barely redeemed at the end.

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I loved this!!

I generally don't like books based in England, or english accents, for that matter. I totally loved this one though! The upper crust clenched jaw of the Major is perfect! It was a great listen!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A new favorite

Major Pettigrew is a wonderful character and Mr Altschuler's voice gave me a wonderful visual of Mr Pettigrew.

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A great story!

The character development and the characters self reflection was beautifully written! A lovely story of life, love and understanding.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable listen

I wasn't sure about purchasing this audiobook as listening to a book is a major investment in time and some books don't translate well to being read aloud. However I did enjoy Major Pettigrew's individuality which was constantly at war with his stuffiness and ideas of what is right and proper. Although not a genre I normally read, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand was poignant, funny and altogether human. I recommend it.

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Thoroughly delightful read.

This was a thoroughly delightful book. The characters are vividly brought to life and they are all mostly likable. It's just a fun little story that will guarantee to have you feeling good by the end

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Excellent writing and wonderful characters.

Narrator was perfect for this book. The story had unexpected twists, while remaining heartfelt and humorous. Creative writing!

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We need more men like the Major

This is a great story. The narrator goes through sections where the Pakistani characters sound more Irish than they should, but that doesn’t detract much. A unique love story with so many layers about relationships and prejudices. I’ll be listening to this one again.

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So Cute!

This is a wonderful summer read …… even if it is set in the dead of winter. The English is in fine form and the narration is superb!

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