Miss Pettigrew is called upon to save Delysia from several precarious situations. In the misunderstanding that ensues, Miss Pettigrew exhibits immense presence of mind and efficiency in helping Miss La Fosse out of several scrapes, most of which involve young men. Miss Pettigrew thinks she is applying for the post of a governess and Delysia requires a maid to keep her affairs in order. Miss Pettigrew is mistakenly sent by the employment agency, to the apartment of young singer and aspiring actress Miss Delysia LaFosse. The day starts quite drearily with Miss Pettigrew desperately seeking a job to avoid being thrown out of her abode. This Persephone Classic, recounts the events of the most remarkable day in the life of Miss Guinevere Pettigrew. To take a look at other books published in the same year, reviewed by other bloggers, please take a look at this blogpost and this one. I am reviewing this book as part of the #1938club, initiated by Simon David Thomas of Stuck in a Book and Karen of Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings. Laughing and thinking about this passage from Winifred Watson’s memorable novel ‘Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day’ (1938). Why men waste money getting drunk on that, when they can get a really cheap palatable drink like lemon squash …!’ ‘Ugh!’ thought Miss Pettigrew, disappointed.

She slipped her class surreptitiously on the table. ‘Where were you brought up?’ commiserated Michael. I’ve never had it, ever, even when I’ve had a cold, as medicine.’ And in The Shops India Knight called Miss Pettigrew 'the sweetest grown-up book in the world'.I always wanted to taste whiskey,’ said Miss Pettigrew happily. The Guardian asked: 'Why has it taken more than half a century for this wonderful flight of humour to be rediscovered?' while 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.' Maureen Lipman wrote in 'Books of the Year' in the Guardian: 'Perhaps the most pleasure has come from Persephone's enchanting reprints, particularly Miss Pettigrew, a fairy story set in 1930s London' and she herself entertained R4 listeners with her five-part reading. 'The sheer fun, the light-heartedness' in this wonderful 1938 book 'feels closer to a Fred Astaire film than anything else' comments the Preface-writer Henrietta Twycross-Martin, who found Miss Pettigrew for Persephone Books. Miss Pettigrew is about a governess sent by an employment agency to the wrong address, where she encounters a glamorous night-club singer, Miss LaFosse.

Winifred watson books