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Helen Simonson

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United Kingdom

Website

http://www.helensimonson.com

Twitter

simonsonhelen

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Humor, Historical Fiction

Influences

Edith Wharton, Henry James, Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, Vita Sackvill ...more

Member Since

September 2009

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Helen Simonson was born in England and spent her teenage years in a small village in East Sussex. A dual UK/USA citizen, she is a graduate of the London School of Economics with an MFA from Stony Brook Southampton. Helen is married with two sons and lives in Brooklyn NY. Her debut novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, was a NY Times bestseller, sold over a million copies and was published in twenty one countries. Her second novel The Summer before The War was also a NY Times and international bestseller. Her newest novel is The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

I absolutely loved this book. I listened to it on a car trip. I fell in love with Major Pettigrew and Ali. My favorite quote: "We do what we can. The rest is God's problem." I've added it to my 7th step prayer I read every morning. Thank you for writing this inspiring and absorbing book. I really just wanted to thank you and acknowledge you for that. But this comment must have a question mark, so here it is…? :)

Helen Simonson Thank you Leanne. It's funny how I often don't remember the quotes attributed to my pen and I'm so thrilled to see them pulled out and underlined by r…moreThank you Leanne. It's funny how I often don't remember the quotes attributed to my pen and I'm so thrilled to see them pulled out and underlined by readers. Honored to be added to your day. My next book will be published March of next year. I wonder if I've said anything quotable in there? I honestly have no idea but hope the readers will show me a few!(less)

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What books etc. did you use to research "The Summer Before The War"?

Helen Simonson Dear Sarah, Five years of constant research have made me almost swear never to try a historical setting again. How does Hilary Mantel do it? Of the hi…moreDear Sarah, Five years of constant research have made me almost swear never to try a historical setting again. How does Hilary Mantel do it? Of the history books I waded through, I'll mention David Fromkin's "Europe's Last Summer and Richard Van Eden "Boy Soldiers of The Great War". Many memoirs and biographies ranged from Agatha Christie's Autobiography to "Henry James at Work" by the wonderful Theodora Bosanquet. I also used primary sources. I spent many hours in the British Library reading newspapers and magazines of 1914 in an attempt to feel the war approach just as Agatha Kent might have done. But every aspect of the novel, from Triumph motorcycles, and the culture of British Romanies, to fashion and food, all required me to burrow far into interesting subjects. Then came the hardest part...putting my research firmly in the back of my brain and writing the story unweighted by all my newfound expertise. Nothing kills a novel faster than the author showing off research and I was still paring away fascinating true details well into copy editing. If only you knew how much I know about the history of Rye's waterworks and sewer systems!! Thanks for writing and Happy New Year 2016.(less)

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Combine Editions
Helen Simonson’s books

Average rating: 3.88 · 204,899 ratings · 22,610 reviews · 4 distinct works • Similar authors

	Major Pettigrew's Last Stand 3.90 avg rating — 144,638 ratings — published 2010 — 82 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Summer Before the War 3.79 avg rating — 44,303 ratings — published 2016 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club 3.93 avg rating — 15,953 ratings — published 2024 — 22 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Reader's Select Editions 2010 - The Geneva Deception, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, The First Rule, Hannah's Choice by Reader's Digest Association, Helen Simonson (Goodreads Author), Robert Crais 2.90 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2010	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

20 posts
Helen Simonson's Blog: Is the first novel the hardest?

My new novel launches May 7, 2024!

Dear Goodreads friends,
Just a heads-up that my third novel, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, launches on Tuesday May 7th, 2024. More details to come but the folks at DIAL PRESS are putting together my book tour right now.
It has been eight years since my last novel so I can only hope you'll think my Hazelbourne Ladies are worth the wait.
Warmest, Helen Simonson

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Published on February 01, 2024 12:03 • Tags: dialpress

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Helen’s Recent Updates

Helen Simonson answered John Witsey's question: I have just read The Summer Before the War, attracted by the title & subject matter as I have a fetish for the period the book is set in. One of my favourite novels is Ford Madox Ford's Parade's End & I couldn't help but notice a number of parallels: Rye, period of setting, intelligent daughter of professor left in perilous pecuniary circumstances by his death, etc. Was this novel an influence for yours? Hi John. Thanks for asking. I have not read Parade's End but I'm going to order it now. I tend to read non-fiction and memoirs about the subject of my book but not novels - an added protection against unconsciously borrowing. I'm not surprised at the See Full Answer
Jul 23, 2024 07:26AM · 4 likes · like
Helen Simonson made a comment on My new novel launches May 7, 2024! " Pre-orders sometimes arrive early I’ve found. Otherwise May 7th is the big launch day. Thanks for being excited! "
Feb 12, 2024 10:48AM · see blog post
Helen Simonson answered Anas Bashir's question: I want to let you know that I absolutely adored 'Major Pettigrew's Last Stand' so much so that it's one of my favorite books of all time. :) Is a sequel on the anvil? Sorry, when I'm writing I tend to ignore my social media. Coming here in a terribly tardy manner to say thank you for the very kind question. No sequels planned (see my answer to another reader) but a new book coming out May 7th, 2024.
Feb 01, 2024 11:56AM · like
Helen Simonson wants to read The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 01, 2024 11:50AM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Helen Simonson (?)

“Life does often get in the way of one's reading.”
― Helen Simonson, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

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“You are a wise man, Major, and I will consider your advice with great care—and humility." He finished his tea and rose from the table to go to his room. "But I must ask you, do you really understand what it means to be in love with an unsuitable woman?"

"My dear boy," said the Major. "Is there really any other kind?”
― Helen Simonson, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

tags: humor, love, women

76 likes

“It surprised him that his grief was sharper than in the past few days. He had forgotten that grief does not decline in a straight line or along a slow curve like a graph in a child's math book. Instead, it was almost as if his body contained a big pile of garden rubbish full both of heavy lumps of dirt and of sharp thorny brush that would stab him when he least expected it.”
― Helen Simonson, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

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Polls

2024 February Members Choice Poll...

This will remain open until Jan 13th.

Great group of books - plan to take part in the discussion if your choice of book wins. Thanks

Happy reading...

The Berry Pickers

by Amanda Peters

9 votes, 18.8%

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

by Helen Simonson

9 votes, 18.8%

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

by James McBride

9 votes, 18.8%

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

by Leslye Walton

5 votes, 10.4%

The Measure

by Nikki Erlick

5 votes, 10.4%

The Secret Life of Sunflowers

by Marta Molnar

5 votes, 10.4%

Hang the Moon

by Jeannette Walls

4 votes, 8.3%

The Marriage Plot

by Jeffrey Eugenides

1 vote, 2.1%

The Museum of You

by Carys Bray

1 vote, 2.1%

48 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Seasonal Read...: Spring Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks	2717	2508	May 31, 2010 09:00PM
The Seasonal Read...: Summer Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks (do NOT delete any posts in this thread)	3022	3283	Aug 31, 2010 10:39PM
The Seasonal Read...: * READERBOARD	10	611	Oct 17, 2010 10:08AM
The Seasonal Read...: Fall 2010 Plans	73	457	Oct 25, 2010 08:39AM
The Seasonal Read...: 5.7 - Circle of Life	26	171	Nov 13, 2010 06:15PM
Bookmarks Subscri...: (June - Sept 2010) Major Pettigrew's Last Stand	12	49	Nov 26, 2010 04:50PM

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Helen Simonson’s Followers (2,526)

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Helen Simonson

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20 posts
Helen Simonson's Blog: Is the first novel the hardest?

My new novel launches May 7, 2024!

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