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Mrs. 'Arris #2
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York
Mrs Harris is back! A little boy, whose father was a GI, is being ill-treated. So when she is asked to go to New York with one of her clients to keep house for her, she smuggles the lad with her to try to find his father.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 1960
25 people are currently reading
1038 people want to read
About the author
Paul Gallico
184 books317 followersPaul William Gallico was born in New York City, on 26th July, 1897. His father was an Italian, and his mother came from Austria; they emigrated to New York in 1895.
He went to school in the public schools of New York, and in 1916 went to Columbia University. He graduated in 1921 with a Bachelor of Science degree, having lost a year and a half due to World War I. He then worked for the National Board of Motion Picture Review, and after six months took a job as the motion picture critic for the New York Daily News. He was removed from this job as his "reviews were too Smart Alecky" (according to Confessions of a Story Teller), and took refuge in the sports department.
During his stint there, he was sent to cover the training camp of Jack Dempsey, and decided to ask Dempsey if he could spar with him, to get an idea of what it was like to be hit by the world heavyweight champion. The results were spectacular; Gallico was knocked out within two minutes. But he had his story, and from there his sports-writing career never looked back.
He became Sports Editor of the Daily News in 1923, and was given a daily sports column. He also invented and organised the Golden Gloves amateur boxing competition. During this part of his life, he was one of the most well-known sporting writers in America, and a minor celebrity. But he had always wanted to be a fiction writer, and was writing short stories and sports articles for magazines like Vanity Fair and the Saturday Evening Post. In 1936, he sold a short story to the movies for $5000, which gave him a stake. So he retired from sports writing, and went to live in Europe, to devote himself to writing. His first major book was Farewell to Sport, which as the title indicates, was his farewell to sports writing.
Though his name was well-known in the United States, he was an unknown in the rest of the world. In 1941, the Snow Goose changed all that, and he became, if not a best-selling author by today's standards, a writer who was always in demand. Apart from a short spell as a war correspondent between 1943 and 1946, he was a full-time freelance writer for the rest of his life. He has lived all over the place, including England, Mexico, Lichtenstein and Monaco, and he lived in Antibes for the last years of his life.
He was a first-class fencer, and a keen deep-sea fisherman. He was married four times, and had several children.
He died in Antibes on 15th July, 1976, just short of his 79th birthday.
He went to school in the public schools of New York, and in 1916 went to Columbia University. He graduated in 1921 with a Bachelor of Science degree, having lost a year and a half due to World War I. He then worked for the National Board of Motion Picture Review, and after six months took a job as the motion picture critic for the New York Daily News. He was removed from this job as his "reviews were too Smart Alecky" (according to Confessions of a Story Teller), and took refuge in the sports department.
During his stint there, he was sent to cover the training camp of Jack Dempsey, and decided to ask Dempsey if he could spar with him, to get an idea of what it was like to be hit by the world heavyweight champion. The results were spectacular; Gallico was knocked out within two minutes. But he had his story, and from there his sports-writing career never looked back.
He became Sports Editor of the Daily News in 1923, and was given a daily sports column. He also invented and organised the Golden Gloves amateur boxing competition. During this part of his life, he was one of the most well-known sporting writers in America, and a minor celebrity. But he had always wanted to be a fiction writer, and was writing short stories and sports articles for magazines like Vanity Fair and the Saturday Evening Post. In 1936, he sold a short story to the movies for $5000, which gave him a stake. So he retired from sports writing, and went to live in Europe, to devote himself to writing. His first major book was Farewell to Sport, which as the title indicates, was his farewell to sports writing.
Though his name was well-known in the United States, he was an unknown in the rest of the world. In 1941, the Snow Goose changed all that, and he became, if not a best-selling author by today's standards, a writer who was always in demand. Apart from a short spell as a war correspondent between 1943 and 1946, he was a full-time freelance writer for the rest of his life. He has lived all over the place, including England, Mexico, Lichtenstein and Monaco, and he lived in Antibes for the last years of his life.
He was a first-class fencer, and a keen deep-sea fisherman. He was married four times, and had several children.
He died in Antibes on 15th July, 1976, just short of his 79th birthday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
March 13, 2023
The lovable, indefatigable Mrs. 'arris has another project. Little Henry next door is not being treated well. If only she could reunite him with his American father. Is it too big of a dream to want to go to America? Not for our dear heroine. This story, much like Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris, shows us just how winsome Ada Harris can be. She finds a way around many an obstacle. It is difficult to dampen her enthusiasm for the task at hand. There are setbacks and disappointments, but she persists. I admire her 'can-do' attitude. You do have to suspend disbelief a bit for this plot, but it is worth it. Will she stay in NYC? Or will she decide that when it comet so home, there's no plyce like it? You'll just have to read the book and find out.
August 13, 2023
What another delightful story of the most wonderful woman "Mrs.Arris".....makes me think of a Pollyanna in a sense with her kind ways, love for adventure who leaves everyone far richer emotionally than they were before having the pleasure of meeting her! After both of these back to back stories about her, I have several pages of new words to look up, which is a good thing even though having a gist of their meanings. I love and have a fondness for the British folk. Such darling stories that really help one feel /have an idea of as if interacting and enjoying each location sure. It was described so vividly it was easy to imagine being placed there. I am looking forward to watching the movie adaption now too. Overall a lovely book:)
November 12, 2015
Another delightful Mrs "Arris book. THe London char woman has done it again - gotten herself into another adventure overseas. She's spunky and lovable and you know that in Gallico's world nothing too terrible will ever really go wrong so just relax and enjoy the muddle.
March 13, 2023
Another great story featuring Mrs Harris and her friend Mrs Butterfield. This time venturing out of London to New York.
July 7, 2022
If you set aside all reality, you'll enjoy the ride! You know Mrs 'Arris always has a happy ending!
August 7, 2021
La señora Harris en Nueva York es la segunda novela de una serie publicada por Alba que tiene a la señora Harris como protagonista y cuyo primer volumen no he leído. No hacerlo, sin embargo, no me ha impedido reconocer desde las primeras páginas a una señora de la limpieza inglesa luchadora, una mujer de esas que no se amedrentan así por así y de las que se meten en algún lío de más cuando algo se les mete entre ceja y ceja.
Resulta fácil simpatizar con la señora Harris y su amiga y confidente Violet, con la que toma el café cada tarde para ponerse al día de los cotilleos de las familias a las que sirven. Y es en uno de esos cafés cuando Harris comenta en alto la idea de salvar a Henry, un niño que vive en el mismo edificio y al que sus padres adoptivos maltratan, reuniéndolo con su padre biológico en EEUU.
Ahora mismo os estaréis preguntando cómo piensan hacerlo. Solo os adelanto que una curiosa coincidencia hace que ambas tengan la oportunidad de viajar a Nueva York y que la suerte hace el resto. Las situaciones por las que pasan para lograr su objetivo son disparatadas y divertidas. Reconozco que tanta suerte en la parte central de la historia y ese empeño de su autor Paul Gallico de que la protagonista tenga todo a su favor una y otra vez me ha producido cierto hastío.
Así, lo que mas me ha gustado de esta novela es la propia señora Harris y los valores que esta representa: determinación, amistad, lealtad, perseverancia, justicia... Y es que La señora Harris en Nueva York no deja de ser una oda con tono sarcástico a todas esas mujeres que se levantan cada día y hacen que sus hogares y los de otros funcionen mejor. Un reflejo del sistema de clases de la época.
"Si de mi dependiera -declaró-, erigiría una estatua en una plaza pública a las mujeres como ellas, porque son las verdaderas heroínas de la vida. Cumplen con sus obligaciones día si y día también, luchan para salir de la pobreza, de la soledad, de las carencias, para sobrevivir y mantener a su familia, pero no pierden la capacidad de reír de sonreír, de encontrar un rato para entregarse a las ensoñaciones."
También me han gustado los paseos de Harris por Nueva York, porque aunque no es una ciudad que conozca bien si he sabido reconocer algunos lugares, y el amor que tan bien sabe transmitir por Londres y particularmente por Willis Gardens.
Es corta, se lee fácil y entretiene, pero se queda pobre, especialmente en esa parte central en la que se agolpan sucesos poco creíbles y, en ocasiones, poco desarrollados.
Resulta fácil simpatizar con la señora Harris y su amiga y confidente Violet, con la que toma el café cada tarde para ponerse al día de los cotilleos de las familias a las que sirven. Y es en uno de esos cafés cuando Harris comenta en alto la idea de salvar a Henry, un niño que vive en el mismo edificio y al que sus padres adoptivos maltratan, reuniéndolo con su padre biológico en EEUU.
Ahora mismo os estaréis preguntando cómo piensan hacerlo. Solo os adelanto que una curiosa coincidencia hace que ambas tengan la oportunidad de viajar a Nueva York y que la suerte hace el resto. Las situaciones por las que pasan para lograr su objetivo son disparatadas y divertidas. Reconozco que tanta suerte en la parte central de la historia y ese empeño de su autor Paul Gallico de que la protagonista tenga todo a su favor una y otra vez me ha producido cierto hastío.
Así, lo que mas me ha gustado de esta novela es la propia señora Harris y los valores que esta representa: determinación, amistad, lealtad, perseverancia, justicia... Y es que La señora Harris en Nueva York no deja de ser una oda con tono sarcástico a todas esas mujeres que se levantan cada día y hacen que sus hogares y los de otros funcionen mejor. Un reflejo del sistema de clases de la época.
"Si de mi dependiera -declaró-, erigiría una estatua en una plaza pública a las mujeres como ellas, porque son las verdaderas heroínas de la vida. Cumplen con sus obligaciones día si y día también, luchan para salir de la pobreza, de la soledad, de las carencias, para sobrevivir y mantener a su familia, pero no pierden la capacidad de reír de sonreír, de encontrar un rato para entregarse a las ensoñaciones."
También me han gustado los paseos de Harris por Nueva York, porque aunque no es una ciudad que conozca bien si he sabido reconocer algunos lugares, y el amor que tan bien sabe transmitir por Londres y particularmente por Willis Gardens.
Es corta, se lee fácil y entretiene, pero se queda pobre, especialmente en esa parte central en la que se agolpan sucesos poco creíbles y, en ocasiones, poco desarrollados.
September 18, 2018
I got a lot of chuckles out of this. Mrs. Ada Harris is back for her second adventure, this time with her best friend Mrs. Butterworth. The two of them are invited by a wealthy couple in the movie business to move to America and keep house.
Before they make the move, the duo is horrified by the abuse heaped on Little Henry, who lives with a foster family next door. He has been abandoned by his mother, and his father lives in America. What could be more natural than kidnapping him, bringing him to New York, and searching for his father? Mrs. Harris is convinced it will be simple.
Of course, it isn't.
There are a lot of funny moments in this one, but it's a little darker than the previous book, due to the sufferings of Little Henry. Surprisingly for this type of book, there is also a little language.
But all ends well.
Before they make the move, the duo is horrified by the abuse heaped on Little Henry, who lives with a foster family next door. He has been abandoned by his mother, and his father lives in America. What could be more natural than kidnapping him, bringing him to New York, and searching for his father? Mrs. Harris is convinced it will be simple.
Of course, it isn't.
There are a lot of funny moments in this one, but it's a little darker than the previous book, due to the sufferings of Little Henry. Surprisingly for this type of book, there is also a little language.
But all ends well.
May 16, 2025
Otro libro sobre la señora Harris, hay por favor traduzcan más... Libro Cozy por excelencia, aunque esta vez casí la lía esta señorcita metiéndose en una y mil problemas por hacer todo a su modo, jeje
Pero tiene un final hermoso y ahora sí ya se vislumbra un amor... Me gustó más el libro de flores para la señora Harris pero este está muy bien...
Pero tiene un final hermoso y ahora sí ya se vislumbra un amor... Me gustó más el libro de flores para la señora Harris pero este está muy bien...
January 31, 2022
En la segunda entrega de la señora Harris nos encontramos con un tema más oscuro como es el abuso infantil, la sra. Butterfield y ella son vecinos de unos indeseables que le cargan la mano a un niño al que ha abandonado su madre. Cuando la sra. Harris se encuentra con la oferta de ir a Nueva York con los Schreiber para ayudarlos a asentarse en su nuevo piso, le da la inspiración de llevarse al niño con ellas para encontrar a su padre, a quien en su fantasia pinta como un tipo bien situado que estará fascinado de reencontrarse con el niño.
Para mi esto es como si lo escribieran pensando en la pelicula, y más claramente una comedia de enredos de situaciones. Ya a la mitad me imaginaba el desenlace, como ella despues analiza lo del vestido: se cumple el deseo , pero no exactamente como imaginas.
El paseo por Nueva York es interesante, y sus ideas de encontrar siempre la bondad en la gente, con unas cuantas excepciones, aunque puede pecar de ingenua porque eso de encontrar un George Brown solamente con el nombre y un par de datos... Su poder secreto, como dice el marques, es hacer que la otra gente se movilice y le importe.
—Si de mí dependiera —declaró—, erigiría una estatua en una plaza pública a las mujeres como ellas, porque son las verdaderas heroínas de la vida. Cumplen con sus obligaciones día sí y día también, luchan para salir de la pobreza, de la soledad, de las carencias, para sobrevivir y mantener a su familia, pero no pierden la capacidad de reír, de sonreír, de encontrar un rato para entregarse a las ensoñaciones. —Hizo una pausa, reflexionó un instante, suspiró y añadió—: Y por eso les construiría la estatua, por el valor de esos sueños de belleza y romanticismo de los que no desisten. Aquí tenemos el ejemplo —terminó— del maravilloso efecto de esos sueños.
Para mi esto es como si lo escribieran pensando en la pelicula, y más claramente una comedia de enredos de situaciones. Ya a la mitad me imaginaba el desenlace, como ella despues analiza lo del vestido: se cumple el deseo , pero no exactamente como imaginas.
El paseo por Nueva York es interesante, y sus ideas de encontrar siempre la bondad en la gente, con unas cuantas excepciones, aunque puede pecar de ingenua porque eso de encontrar un George Brown solamente con el nombre y un par de datos... Su poder secreto, como dice el marques, es hacer que la otra gente se movilice y le importe.
—Si de mí dependiera —declaró—, erigiría una estatua en una plaza pública a las mujeres como ellas, porque son las verdaderas heroínas de la vida. Cumplen con sus obligaciones día sí y día también, luchan para salir de la pobreza, de la soledad, de las carencias, para sobrevivir y mantener a su familia, pero no pierden la capacidad de reír, de sonreír, de encontrar un rato para entregarse a las ensoñaciones. —Hizo una pausa, reflexionó un instante, suspiró y añadió—: Y por eso les construiría la estatua, por el valor de esos sueños de belleza y romanticismo de los que no desisten. Aquí tenemos el ejemplo —terminó— del maravilloso efecto de esos sueños.
April 13, 2025
Delightful. I love Mrs. Harris. I’ll go with her to Moscow as well.
August 3, 2023
An enjoyable fairy tale.
August 29, 2022
Mrs Harris's neighbours, the foul Gussets, are ill-treating their foster child, little Henry, whose British mother has remarried after her divorce from her American husband. Determined to somehow get Henry to his father (whom she's certain will turn the boy's life around), Mrs Harris gets it into her mind to go to America. But there's many a slip between the cup and the lip, of course...
I'd read Mrs 'arris Goes to Paris last week, and I loved that so much, as soon as I finished it, I began this one. Like the first book, this one too has similar themes: Mrs Harris's simple charm, her courage and general good-naturedness wins her friends; people, many of them under the influence of Mrs Harris, who end up doing good. There is a flavour of the country Mrs Harris travels to. There are interesting characters around Mrs Harris - who, of course, is quite a character in herself.
I didn't find this as absolutely wonderful as Mrs 'arris Goes to Paris. It's still a wonderful, heartwarming book, funny at times and always full of feeling, but I suppose for me it was a case of familiarity beginning to breed contempt. I'd seen this all before (and, frankly, Mrs Harris in France, and that too in Dior, is much, much more a duck out of water than Mrs Harris in America, which is why it's also more satisfying). Somehow, the way Mrs Harris conquered France touched me more deeply than this. I feel, too, that there was a novelty about the first book, the situation, the character, and all, that wasn't around here.
Still, despite all of that, very enjoyable.
I'd read Mrs 'arris Goes to Paris last week, and I loved that so much, as soon as I finished it, I began this one. Like the first book, this one too has similar themes: Mrs Harris's simple charm, her courage and general good-naturedness wins her friends; people, many of them under the influence of Mrs Harris, who end up doing good. There is a flavour of the country Mrs Harris travels to. There are interesting characters around Mrs Harris - who, of course, is quite a character in herself.
I didn't find this as absolutely wonderful as Mrs 'arris Goes to Paris. It's still a wonderful, heartwarming book, funny at times and always full of feeling, but I suppose for me it was a case of familiarity beginning to breed contempt. I'd seen this all before (and, frankly, Mrs Harris in France, and that too in Dior, is much, much more a duck out of water than Mrs Harris in America, which is why it's also more satisfying). Somehow, the way Mrs Harris conquered France touched me more deeply than this. I feel, too, that there was a novelty about the first book, the situation, the character, and all, that wasn't around here.
Still, despite all of that, very enjoyable.
February 18, 2025
Another lovely book on the adventures of Mrs Harris! I enjoy her personality, relationships, mistakes, triumphs and loyalty of those with whom she crosses paths. She gives an escape from everyday worries and a reminder of what's really important in life.
August 19, 2025
It's a little far-fetched and more than a little dated, but it was lovely to be reunited with Ada 'Arris again. She's all heart, and she doesn't know a stranger, even in New York! This audiobook came with the first book as a set, so I went ahead and listened. I'm glad I did. I needed a sweet story with a good ending.
April 18, 2023
Mrs. Harris is back and trying to find the father of a young boy who is being mistreated by the family his mother left him with. This leads to her and Mrs. Butterfield over to the United States to hunt the father down.
Of course everything ends well, as is expected with a Mrs. Harris adventure. This one was a bit less enjoyable than Paris but still a cozy and easy read.
3.5/5 stars
Of course everything ends well, as is expected with a Mrs. Harris adventure. This one was a bit less enjoyable than Paris but still a cozy and easy read.
3.5/5 stars
July 12, 2023
Definitely liked this one more than the first. Mrs Harris is a girlboss. Can't wait to read about her going to Moscow and then becoming an MP yass slay girl.
January 30, 2023
A delightful novella read on the heels of Mrs Harris Goes To Paris. I enjoyed New York even more-possibly because I was familiar with the characters. Not always a realistic story but who cares when it’s entertaining
May 29, 2024
Published in 1968 and the second book of the Mrs Harris series. This is heart-warming, lighthearted and heaps of fun.
November 12, 2009
This was an absolutely delightful little book -- written about 1960. The protagonist, Mrs. Harris, is a middle-aged char-woman in London, but her innate energy, kindness, and curiosity get her into one adventure (or mishap) after another. I couldn't give it five stars, simply because it's not a deep or complex plot, but it was heartwarming and entertaining to read. I'm going to look for the book about an earlier adventure she had called "Mrs. 'Arris goes to Paris."
February 23, 2023
Cute. Not as good as Mrs Harris Goes to Paris.
May 23, 2024
A follow-up to the popular Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris; herein the irrepressible Mrs. Harris goes to New York, with an entourage.
Surprisingly, everything works out so well! My reading pleasure was somewhat stunted because I had been exposed to numerous plot spoilers before reading this. However, given the way these books are written, how predictable the outcomes, the telegraphing of every development,—the spoilers really did not spoil much.
This was okay, for what it was, a light entertainment, saccharine and frothy, heavily dependant on character types and happy endings.
Surprisingly, everything works out so well! My reading pleasure was somewhat stunted because I had been exposed to numerous plot spoilers before reading this. However, given the way these books are written, how predictable the outcomes, the telegraphing of every development,—the spoilers really did not spoil much.
This was okay, for what it was, a light entertainment, saccharine and frothy, heavily dependant on character types and happy endings.
August 25, 2023
Although the plot was so predictable that I figured it out quite early, I still enjoyed the book because I really like Ada Harris. I like her enough to grow impatient with her mistakes and to feel for her in her Jane Austen- heroine-like crisis of self understanding.
But I don’t really feel WITH her because the author tells me how to feel instead of letting me get there myself. And then Mrs. Harris doesn’t seem to profit by her understanding because her mistakes work themselves out in fairy tale fashion. She only has to moan about being foolish, not work to make things right like Eliza Bennett or Emma Woodhouse.
But I don’t really feel WITH her because the author tells me how to feel instead of letting me get there myself. And then Mrs. Harris doesn’t seem to profit by her understanding because her mistakes work themselves out in fairy tale fashion. She only has to moan about being foolish, not work to make things right like Eliza Bennett or Emma Woodhouse.
September 2, 2023
This sequel is nothing like it's lovely predecessor. I honestly recommend not wasting your time. It's like watching one of those sitcoms where everyone tells easily-disproven lies the entire time.
Full plot synopsis with spoilers ahead:
Ada Harris and her friend Mrs. Butterfield are anxious about little Henry who lives next door and seems to get beat up by the foster family. His mother is British and has disappeared with her new husband, his Father is somewhere in the US and unaware of Henry's predicament.
Mrs Harris and Mrs Butterfield are invited to work for Mrs Film President who is moving to New York. The two agree, deciding they can try to locate George Brown, little Henry's Father while in the US. Mrs Harris serendipitously finds an old Milwaukee newspaper wrapped around a client's recently acquired beer stein. She sees a wedding announcement for a George Brown, who matches the description as Henry's father, including Air Force service and being stationed near London during the war. She is sure this is Henry's father and concocts a ridiculous plan to smuggle Henry to the US to get him away from his abusive foster family. She manages to sneak him aboard the ocean liner, by means of having him stand near big families as they board. But when she realizes how intense customs and immigration will be when they arrive in NYC she grows anxious. She confides the trouble to a friend made while onboard, Mr. Bayswater, who seems likely to become a romantic interest for Mrs. Harris. He advises she ask the Marquis for help.
An old friend from Paris, the Marquis, is on the ship and recently appointed ambassador to US from France. She convinces him to use his diplomatic immunity to sneak the boy ashore in his entourage. The US press surprises the Marquis and begin asking who the boy is, and he stupidly says it is his grandson from England (which would make him the son of a Lord, since the Marquis really does have a daughter married to a British Lord).
Since he has announced this, he cannot make the boy disappear, and instead the boy is treated as British nobility and lives at the embassy with the Marquis for the first couple weeks in the US, and then contracts chicken pox and is quarantined in the embassy. The Lord from England telegraphs, saying he's surprised to have an extra son he didn't know about, but assumes it's an illegitimate son of the Marquis and says he'll cover for his Father-in-law if asked.
After ordering/cleaning Mr and Mrs Film President's penthouse, Mrs Harris travels to Kenosha, Wisconsin to see if George Brown is ready to welcome his son home, only to find the man is not Henry's father.
She returns to her job, where she and Mrs. Butterfield serve dinner parties for a motley collection of "film people" including a disgusting and racist singer called Kentucky Clayborne (this character uses the 'n' word half a dozen times, along with other bad language, which was a bit surprising, given the tone of the Mrs Harris books up to this point).
Mrs Harris writes to the Air Force asking for details about the George Brown who is Henry's father, and they reply it could be any of several hundred George Browns.
Mrs. Harris brings Henry (now free of chicken pox) to the Film President's penthouse where he lives secretly in the servants quarters. The Marquis tells the press the boy returned to England after the Easter holidays in the US.
Mrs. Butterfield's anxiety and poor cooking lead Mrs Film President to discover the boy living in her home. When Mr. and Mrs. Film President hear the whole story, they agree the boy can stay. They decide to assist in finding his father. Did I mention they are childless and always wanted children of their own?
Mrs Harris begins visiting all the George Brown's she can find in New York, Mr. Film Producer uses company resources to look for Henry's father. No one suggests using a private investigator, for some reason.
Mrs Harris makes friends with many George Browns in New York, but doesn't find the right one. Mr Film President figures out who the Father is and it's terrible news. Kentucky Claiborne is actually Henry's father. When this KY Claiborne is informed, he says he won't have anything to do with the boy. Henry equally dislikes KY Claiborne who already smacked him once. Mrs. Harris faints and takes to her bed for days.
Finally Mr. Bayswater comes to visit and cheers Ada/Mrs Harris up. She apologizes to her friends for her hubris in smuggling Henry to the US and causing so much trouble.
Mr and Mrs Film President get KY Claiborne to request the child's birth certificate from England and sign Henry over to them so they can legally adopt him. They seem to think they can easily smooth over the fact he was smuggled into the country. No one ever thinks of trying to locate the missing British mother, and she simply fades out of the plot.
Mrs Harris and Mrs Butterfield are homesick for England and book ocean liner tickets. Mr and Mrs Film President beg them to stay, but the ladies insist. All their friends say goodbye, and Mr. Bayswater gives Ada/Mrs. Harris a key to his apartment and says he'll see her in a few months when he comes back to England.
Henry fiercely hugs "Aunt Ada" goodbye saying he loves her.
The two ladies feel right at home on the ship when they meet other Londoners
Full plot synopsis with spoilers ahead:
Ada Harris and her friend Mrs. Butterfield are anxious about little Henry who lives next door and seems to get beat up by the foster family. His mother is British and has disappeared with her new husband, his Father is somewhere in the US and unaware of Henry's predicament.
Mrs Harris and Mrs Butterfield are invited to work for Mrs Film President who is moving to New York. The two agree, deciding they can try to locate George Brown, little Henry's Father while in the US. Mrs Harris serendipitously finds an old Milwaukee newspaper wrapped around a client's recently acquired beer stein. She sees a wedding announcement for a George Brown, who matches the description as Henry's father, including Air Force service and being stationed near London during the war. She is sure this is Henry's father and concocts a ridiculous plan to smuggle Henry to the US to get him away from his abusive foster family. She manages to sneak him aboard the ocean liner, by means of having him stand near big families as they board. But when she realizes how intense customs and immigration will be when they arrive in NYC she grows anxious. She confides the trouble to a friend made while onboard, Mr. Bayswater, who seems likely to become a romantic interest for Mrs. Harris. He advises she ask the Marquis for help.
An old friend from Paris, the Marquis, is on the ship and recently appointed ambassador to US from France. She convinces him to use his diplomatic immunity to sneak the boy ashore in his entourage. The US press surprises the Marquis and begin asking who the boy is, and he stupidly says it is his grandson from England (which would make him the son of a Lord, since the Marquis really does have a daughter married to a British Lord).
Since he has announced this, he cannot make the boy disappear, and instead the boy is treated as British nobility and lives at the embassy with the Marquis for the first couple weeks in the US, and then contracts chicken pox and is quarantined in the embassy. The Lord from England telegraphs, saying he's surprised to have an extra son he didn't know about, but assumes it's an illegitimate son of the Marquis and says he'll cover for his Father-in-law if asked.
After ordering/cleaning Mr and Mrs Film President's penthouse, Mrs Harris travels to Kenosha, Wisconsin to see if George Brown is ready to welcome his son home, only to find the man is not Henry's father.
She returns to her job, where she and Mrs. Butterfield serve dinner parties for a motley collection of "film people" including a disgusting and racist singer called Kentucky Clayborne (this character uses the 'n' word half a dozen times, along with other bad language, which was a bit surprising, given the tone of the Mrs Harris books up to this point).
Mrs Harris writes to the Air Force asking for details about the George Brown who is Henry's father, and they reply it could be any of several hundred George Browns.
Mrs. Harris brings Henry (now free of chicken pox) to the Film President's penthouse where he lives secretly in the servants quarters. The Marquis tells the press the boy returned to England after the Easter holidays in the US.
Mrs. Butterfield's anxiety and poor cooking lead Mrs Film President to discover the boy living in her home. When Mr. and Mrs. Film President hear the whole story, they agree the boy can stay. They decide to assist in finding his father. Did I mention they are childless and always wanted children of their own?
Mrs Harris begins visiting all the George Brown's she can find in New York, Mr. Film Producer uses company resources to look for Henry's father. No one suggests using a private investigator, for some reason.
Mrs Harris makes friends with many George Browns in New York, but doesn't find the right one. Mr Film President figures out who the Father is and it's terrible news. Kentucky Claiborne is actually Henry's father. When this KY Claiborne is informed, he says he won't have anything to do with the boy. Henry equally dislikes KY Claiborne who already smacked him once. Mrs. Harris faints and takes to her bed for days.
Finally Mr. Bayswater comes to visit and cheers Ada/Mrs Harris up. She apologizes to her friends for her hubris in smuggling Henry to the US and causing so much trouble.
Mr and Mrs Film President get KY Claiborne to request the child's birth certificate from England and sign Henry over to them so they can legally adopt him. They seem to think they can easily smooth over the fact he was smuggled into the country. No one ever thinks of trying to locate the missing British mother, and she simply fades out of the plot.
Mrs Harris and Mrs Butterfield are homesick for England and book ocean liner tickets. Mr and Mrs Film President beg them to stay, but the ladies insist. All their friends say goodbye, and Mr. Bayswater gives Ada/Mrs. Harris a key to his apartment and says he'll see her in a few months when he comes back to England.
Henry fiercely hugs "Aunt Ada" goodbye saying he loves her.
The two ladies feel right at home on the ship when they meet other Londoners
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2024
Very sweet and heartwarming story that is rather simple and ties up way too nicely from a realistic perspective. However, this is a sort of unconventional modern fairy tale and makes one want to be a better person. Mrs Harris is an absolute doll !
January 9, 2023
Lovely!
March 1, 2023
Cute story. All’s well that ends well? … unless you have to break a ton of laws to get there? I think parts of this one were combined with the Paris story for the movie.
January 29, 2025
Another nice Mrs Harris adventure. The stakes are higher in this book, which actually decreases a bit of the enchantment from the last book, but overall it is still a lighthearted, enjoyable read.
February 5, 2025
bit far fetched but feel good- very short!
February 5, 2023
Continuación de: "Flores para la señora Harris". Preciosa historia, me ha gustado casi tanto como el anterior. Me gusta con escribía este autor, sencillo pero con tanto mensaje detrás.
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