Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day by Winifred Watson is an absolutely delightful book! An adult fairy tale written in 1938, it was reissued by Persephone earlier this year. Guinevere Pettigrew is a plain, middle-aged governess who doesn't like children very much and is a bit down on her luck. She is mistakenly sent on a job interview to the apartment of glamorous nightclub singer Miss Delysia LaFosse. Miss Pettigrew is immediately taken up in the drama that is Miss LaFosse's love live and, in the course of one day, manages to find some happiness of her own. This was a quick, easy, feel-good book that is perfect for a brief escape from the stress and pressure that often increase during the holiday season.
Miss Pettigrew was also my introduction to Persephone Books , a company that reprints "forgotten classics by twentieth-century (mostly women) writers". Their beautiful editions have dove-grey covers with endpaper and bookmarks in the pattern of historical fabrics. The catalog I requested arrived a few days ago and provided an enjoyable evening of reading in itself. Several more Persephone titles have been added to my tbr list!
I just read this one, as well. It was quite a lot of fun. I want to try and rent the movie that just came out a while back.
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteIt's the January selection for my book club. I'm not sure how much there is to actually discuss, so we are having our first-ever movie night. I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun and we can at least compare the two.
The style of these reprints looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDawn,
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful, high-quality books. I'm hoping to get more for my library!