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Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day cover art

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

By: Winifred Watson
Narrated by: Frances McDormand
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Summary

Miss Pettigrew is a down-on-her-luck, middle-aged governess sent by her employment agency to work for a nightclub singer rather than a household of unruly children. Over a period of 24 hours, as she becomes caught up in the life of Delysia LaFloss, her own life is changed - forever.

This charming, funny, light-hearted 1938 novel was a bestseller on its first appearance. Read by Academy Award winning actress Frances McDormand, who stars in the 2008 film as Miss Pettigrew.

Winifred Watson grew up in Newcastle and was a secretary until, in 1935, she married Leslie Pickering, the manager of a timber firm. She wrote six novels in all and died in 2002.

©2000 The Estate of Winifred Watson (P)2008 Persephone Books

Critic reviews

"Miss Pettigree is irresistible, a perfect mix of wistfulness and joy, substance and froth." (Tracy Chevalier)
"Pure Cinderella fantasy farce with beaus, bounders, negligees and nightclubs - Miss Pettigrew's blossoming is a delight to observe." ( The Guardian)

What listeners say about Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Uplifting story

Enjoyed the story but why was there an american narrator for an English book featuring English characters set in London? Not only was the american accent irritating but the reader used american pronunciation for words such as leisure.

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33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

The most wonderful lighthearted listen that I think I have ever come across. The reader sounded of the time so leading to deeper interest. Such a good listen that I find myself quite upset that the author appears not to have other titles to snuggle down with, so its back to Miss Pettigrews "new take on life".

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

do not miss this one

This is a delightful book, well written and well paced the narrator is well matched to the time and style of the period.
This is one that I will listen to again.
B.M. Wicklow Ireland

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful story

A very sweet and funny tale.

The American accent was a bit jarring for a story entirely set in London and among the British. But it was very well done.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun Read

This was just a really fun read. Yes, it did bother me a bit in the beginning that the narrator wasn't British, but she is a good reader and read the book well. The story itself was fun and hilarious at times. It's a thoroughly good book that I can recommend to anyone.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not a good casting

Francis Mcdormand is a fine actress just not right for this book maybe it was for the American market

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful fairytale

a wonderful adult fairy tale, married by the narration. why have an American accent for a uniquely British book ? the story reminded me of those delicious black and white British films.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Entertaining and engaging

Very well performed. was entertained throughout. Be warned - a few politically incorrect moments that will have you gasping. Not sure how to treat these moments but definitely worth a listen/read.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

Absolutely wonderfully sweet. The performance is excellent!
The story is sweet and endearing. Truly a little master piece.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A gem of a story

I stumbled across this book by chance and I am so glad I did. It is a wonderful book - quirky, very witty and it has the most delightful heroine in Miss Pettigrew. A downtrodden governess and lonely spinster, she finds herself sucked into the glitzy world of night club singer Miss Lafosse. Miss P finds herself dragged into all kinds of situations she had never even dreamed about. But is she fazed? Far from it. She shows her true colours and in this one day she finally starts to live. The book is set in the 1930s and is completely captivating. I adore it!

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2 people found this helpful