Reader's Ink discussion

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is set (rather firmly) in rural England. How did the setting inform the story? How would it have differed if set in, for example, rural America or London?

The one thing that comes to mind is Mrs. Ali's Muslim background. Not sure how that same set of circumstances would have unfolded in another part of the world. Her family had their own issues. The Son, grandson, etc. Her love and loyalty to them seemed to evolve too. The Major had a lot of respect for the young man, (Abdul) that worked for him, and Mrs. Ali was very grateful for their friendship/working relationship.

The setting symbolized the "simple life" (but showed that lots 'o drama can occur in farm country, too). I think the smaller the town, the smaller the circles of people (as someone who moved from DC to a town of 4,500 people, I think this is a "duh"), and that's what provides the settingg's charm as well as the irritating fact that everybody sees everything. And has an opinion about it.

The setting enhanced our understanding of Major Pettigrew. He had settled in his village, raised his family there, and intended to keep him simple life. As parts of the world progressed around his village, he was content to not change. Those who came from the "progressed" world (his son, Sandy, the American) came in with loose morals and influenced worldviews. If this story had been set in London or another metropolis, I think Major Pettigrew would have been less believable as a character.

I agree, Alisha. Pettigrew is entirely tied to his setting, and he would have been a completely different character apart from it. Pettigrew is very much like the country---old, pretty unchanging, authentic.