Madame Doubtfire, written in 1987, is a very modern story about a ‘broken home’. Daniel and Miranda Hilliard, parents of three children, have separated and are ‘at war’ with one another. The book tells the amusing - and moving - story of how Daniel and Miranda become friends again.
Madame Doubtfire is already established as a children’s classic. ‘Mrs Doubtfire’, the film based on the book, starring Robin Williams, was released in 1993. It achieved worldwide success, having the same ingredients as the book - warmth, fantasy, great humour, and an underlying wisdom and realism.
The story begins with Daniel and Miranda living apart. Miranda is a successful businesswoman, and is deeply angry with her husband, an impractical and frequently out-of-work actor. Daniel’s saving grace is his sense of humour - that, and his love of the children. Miranda is making it difficult for Daniel to see his children. However, she decides to employ someone to look after them. Daniel hits upon the plan of disguising himself as a woman - and gets the job! All goes well - Daniel is able to spend time with his children, who know perfectly well who Madame Doubtfire is. But inevitably, in an amusing sequence of events, Miranda discovers the truth.
The resulting row between Miranda and Daniel leaves the children white and shaking. It seems there is nothing to be done, until Lydia, the oldest child, tells both parents what she thinks of them. At last Daniel and Miranda see sense. The story ends with the two parents making peace with one another - although it is obvious that they will not get back together again.