I'm aware that Mrs. Harris is a stereotype. I know that the characters here are cut-outs of the poor-but-salt-of-the-earth, the unhappy-even-though-born-with-a-silver-spoon and so on, but I loved this book. It's a charmingly told fable of a London char of the 1950's and her quest to realise her dream of owning a Dior gown. Mrs. Harris has many adventures, and in some ways her tale does not end happily ever after. But she learns a great deal on the way, as do others, and both she and we can feel satisfied with the way the story finishes. A perfect holiday read ( )

There’s something magical that happens when in the presence of Dior, even when you’re a poor London char like the titular Mrs. Harris - maybe even especially so. Seeing one of the creations from the atelier premiere sparks feelings of wonder, magic, and innate joy that can occasionally be seen with other designers, but never in quite the same way, and inevitably makes one want to do the impossible. For Mrs. Harris, who is struck by the presence of a fabulous dress when spotted in the wardrobe of one of her employers, she begins to dream of owning a Dior dress of her very own and with a small win at the football pools she’s off! In the film version (dearly loved), Mrs. Harris’ fortune is brought about by a string of coincidences and good fortune that while very much fitting with the overall tone of whimsy and glitter that suffuse the movie, are a little far fetched compared to the hard work, good deeds, and stubbornness that drive Mrs. Harris in the novel. Showcasing the determination and good nature of the inimitable London charwoman, Mrs. Harris couldn’t be a more endearing and charming character in the novel. It is her sweet (but stubborn) nature that wins her friends and allies as she crosses the Channel after saving up her American dollars (Gallico is particular about his historical financial details!) and finally makes it to the atelier of Monsieur Dior. Here she is met with barriers in the form of the expected snotty French personages (softened slightly from those in the film, but never the less endearing and realistic) and timelines in the creation of haute couture, but with some unexpected generosity she extends her stay in Paris and becomes a crucial player in the lives of the many employees of Dior. After weaving her own brand of practical magic, Mrs. Harris makes it through customs and back to London, but her fabulous dress is destroyed by the selfish actions of one of her pet clients and she must learn the final lesson of the book: she may have gotten what she thought she wanted (in the form of the Dior dress), but it is the memories of her journey and the lifelong friendships she made that are the real gain!

After her adventures in Paris, Mrs. Harris can’t help herself from taking on another trip of a lifetime - this time to help set up a household in the Big Apple for a pair of clients and find a home for an abused child. Compared to her time in Paris, the New York story has far more grit and grime - circling around abandoned children, abuse, the effects of WWII on the population, and the vastness of America - and far less sparkle, but that actually served it well in terms of realism. New York has its own charm, but it is not filled with the same light as Paris, after all! Here we see Mrs. Harris turn her scheming charm up a notch and use her friends to their best extent (with no harm to anyone, of course) as she searches for the father of little Henry. Her decided shift in character matches the increasing stakes and complexity of the challenges in a very American way, and it is one which suits her well as she faces highly unexpected twists until it all turns right in the end. I definitely wasn’t as easily charmed by this novel, but I absolutely had to find out how Mrs. Harris would triumph in the end! ( )

(These are my thoughts on Mrs. Harris Goes to New York. My thoughts on Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris are in a separate review.)

What an adventure this turns out to be! Well, a pretty unlawful caper, that is. One with chuckle-worthy moments, but it also gets rather serious.

Ada Harris is interesting because she isn't just a sweet little older lady. Yes, her personableness appeals to people, and she's got compassion and principles, but she also has a sometimes sharp and/or "naughty" tongue. (The author doesn't write out everything Ada says at those times, tsk, tsk, tsk.) And Ada is cunning and quite willing to make up falsehoods when they advance her plans.

On the other hand, when her bold, proactive choices sometimes tip into folly, she openly kicks herself. Her moments of worry and despair can have a way of breaking your heart a little.

And, um, my heart may have done a little something else entirely while reading this second book about Mrs. Harris. What with the slightly, adorably awkward and precious hint of romance in this one.

On a different note, this story features a boorish character nobody likes, who uses coarse language in reference to a few women and a child. No F-bombs, but he drops the N-word an aggravating handful of times, including when he "deliver[s] an oration on his prejudices." Also, as the story addresses child abuse, most of which happens off-screen, there is an on-page slap during a scene with the boor.

Anyhow.

While this story isn't the sparkly variety like its predecessor, it has its share of substance, as the first one does. And, boy, a certain simple, heartfelt line from a character on the next-to-last page gave me a teary smile. I hear tell there are two more books about Mrs. Harris's doings... ( )

I first read Paul Gallico only recently when I picked up the expanded version of his story
The Snow Goose which I absolutely loved! My decision to read this book was guided by the fact that I prefer to read the book before watching the movie. These stories are delightful and heart-warming, full of charming characters and enjoyable plotlines full of heart and humor. Originally written between 1950 -60, these stories are timeless in their appeal.

The first story, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris revolves around Mrs. Ada Harris, a sixty-ish London charwoman, as she embarks on a quest to purchase a Dior dress after she is enamored with one she sees in a client’s cupboard. The story follows Mrs. Harris’s efforts to scrimp and save for almost three years and then embark on her trip to Paris, where she meets several interesting characters. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

In the second story, Mrs Harris Goes to New York , we catch up with Mrs. Harris after her Paris adventure. In this installment, Mrs. Harris teams up with her friend and neighbor, Mrs. Violet Butterworthwho is employed as a cook and travels to the United States, hoping to reunite an eight-year-old boy who was abandoned by his mother to the care of an abusive family in Mrs. Harris’s neighborhood, with his father. The boy’s father, an American serviceman who was stationed in London during WWII, had returned to the U.S. after the war without his wife, who refused to leave with him. We also meet a few familiar faces from the first book in this story. A lovely story that will leave you with a smile on your face and a lump in your throat!

I paired my reading with the wonderful audio narration by Juliet Stevenson which I really enjoyed. I loved Mrs. Harris and was immersed in her adventures. I can’t wait to read the remaining books in this series. These stories are perfect for when you crave a read that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm, happy feeling in your heart!

“Nothing in life ever was a complete and one hundred per cent success, but often one could well afford to settle for less, and this would seem to be the greatest lesson one could learn in life.” (from Mrs. Harris Goes to New York)

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This is a bind up of Mrs Harris goes to Paris and Mrs Harris goes to New York. I only read the first book which was 120 pages. It is as delightful as the film, a charming quick read about a char lady who really wants a Dior dress and with a bit of luck winning the football pools and saving up she realises her dream and goes to Paris to get that dress. A quick fun read. ( )