A Gentleman in Moscow

 Read the full review at Bengaluru review's newsletter - December edition

A Gentleman in Moscow

Major Pettigrew's last stand

 Author : Helen Simonson

Set in the English country side in a a small village EdgeCombe St.Mary, Major Pettigrew’s last stand is a delightful tale centered around a retired army officer and his unlikely romance with a Pakistani shopkeeper Jasmina Ali.

Major Pettigrew is a quintessential respected gentleman in the village community. He is 68 years old widower who has lost his wife to illness, member of the golf club, a man of faith and a clear favorite among the ladies. He is very particular about his belongings and proud of his family background. At 68, people have fixed notions about life and are critical about accepting anything new. He is a typical gentleman who has aged well and is accustomed to his definite lifestyle, has selective friends and has fenced his boundaries. People in the village look up to him for his judgement and his word is honored in the community.

Mrs.Ali owns a shop in the village which is a legacy from her deceased husband. She sells essential supplies to the villagers who are not capable or running in short of time to travel to the nearby town for their regular shopping. Over a period of time, Major Pettigrew and Mrs.Ali develop a steadfast friendship because of their common taste in literature, gardening and varied aspects in life. When their friendship comes into limelight in the yearly village dance, the entire village scorns on Mrs.Ali as a permanent outsider, declining her right to be a part of the community. And it is up to the Major to take a stand against the village to give Mrs.Ali the special place she deserves or go on with his life as usual.

The book is a very interesting portrayal of the struggle faced by two old people belonging to two different cultures and the consequences they have to face because of their bold choice. Even the youth face the brunt of the society when they fall in love. The objections, the isolation and the criticism are immense. At a ripe age, when people usually resort to religion and faith, falling in love with someone from a completely different faith, brings rivals of all kind, seen and unforeseen. And as the Vicar very rightly mentions to the Major, “The lovers come to me for blessing to be in heaven together, when I cannot even promise them a grave side by side”.

It is not very difficult to understand certain conservative religious customs and practices, and the status in which the women are held by the conformists of those religions. The doctrines are laid and fanatics stand by them. The author very deftly brings out the difficulties faced by the protagonists when they are confronted by two such conservative belief systems in a very light hearted way.

There are other interesting characters in this book. Amina, a single mother struggling to find her standing in the village, the Major’s son Roger who befriends an American lady and Mrs.Ali’s nephew Abdul Wahid, who goes deeper into faith after being forced to sacrifice his love, each of them offer a fresh perspective to the reader, on how the personalities of the youth are molded based on their confrontations with the conservative society.

This is my second book from the same author and I love her narration style. Her books are primarily society centric with humor in abundance. But they progress at a very slow pace. A lot of pages are dedicated to social customs and dance parties. The subtle nuances and social protocols are highlighted in great detail. At the same time, they offer a deep insight into people’s characters and their reactions in the face of adversities. If you enjoy Jane Austen novels, you will love Helen Simonson.

It is holiday season and everyone is winding down their schedules. Curl up in your bed, with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy this read.

My Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

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