Just on the subject of the book, per se, I wanted to add my tuppence-worth. I'm finding it a hugely enjoyable read (I'm about half-way through.) As Peggy herself says, there is no attempt to be chronological - from the foreword: "My book roams freely around time,emotions, opinions, prejudices and a lot of whatever." She also recommends reading Jean Freedman's bio alongside the memoir.
By turns the book reflects self-criticism, egotism, compassion, love and
a whole host of other qualities - just like a real person!
I highly recommend it.
a propos the discussion immediately preceding: Here is a partial quote from p192, where Peggy is discussing the early days of skiffle when players would turn their attentions to ballads such as "The Twa Magicians":
Accompanied, "The Twa Magicians" has no pulse anymore, just rhythm. Ill-considered accompaniments wreaked havoc. An instrumentalist would turn a 5/4 song into a 4/4 to fit with the duple metres preferred by the five-string banjo. Songs would speed up, passengers on a runaway train rocketing along on metrically precise rails. I blush with shame when I hear some of my early backings for Ewan's songs and the speed at which I sang some of my own. I use recordings of them for cannon fodder when I teach accompaniment."
Sounds like a pretty self-aware accompanist.