Tale à la Russe: Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Moscow by Paul Gallico

When I first discovered Mrs. Harris in Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris, I was throughly charmed as she was a multi-dimensional character in a delightful book enriched with wonderful drawings. Mrs. Harris is one of those characters you just don't forget, and despite the book coming out many decades ago, it transcends the years. I haven't read the two installments that follow, but from what I gather they were also very good, most likely stronger than this one. I'm sure I will get to them eventually.

This final installment is somewhat disappointing. Mrs. Harris and her friend Mrs. Butterfield are much the same, and that is part of the problem as we don't really see anything new to round out the characters any further. The other concern is the cliché-ridden account of Russia, in 1974 still the U.S.S.R. Undoubtedly, many of the details are based on facts about the spying done by the KGB, the shortages of basic items like toilet paper (loo paper to these very British characters) in the stores, the rundown buildings and drab streets, and so on. Author Paul Gallico attacked the Soviet government with a vengeance – I have to wonder about what was in his own KGB dossier.

Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Butterfield have won a package tour to Moscow and when Mrs. Harris tells her journalist client Mr. Lockwood about it, he asks her to bring a love letter to Liz, his Russian girlfriend, a tour guide for Intourist, the Russian travel service. They have not been able to communicate due to the strict rules laid down by the Soviet government. She agrees, though she knows it could be dangerous for her to carry a letter written in Russian and give it to a Soviet citizen. But, Mrs. Harris believes in love and wants to help the couple.

Mrs. Butterfield has serious reservations about the trip and once she finds out about the letter her anxiety grows. She's right to worry, as unbeknownst to Mrs. Harris, the two London ladies are incorrectly taken for spies and get into some very compromising situations. All sorts of complications eventually arise, especially once they realize their status and Liz becomes involved, much to her own peril.

Gallico's plot feels contrived, and the caricatures of the Soviet and British diplomats who intercede fall somewhat flat. Even the then-dashing, handsome Prince Philip is written in to play a small part in events (and now it's hard not to think of his recent death).

Of course, it all turns out right in the end, as to be expected. I'm somewhat sorry that this installment completed the series, but it hasn't spoiled my memory of my introduction to Mrs. Harris, who remains a memorable and unique character.