THE GOWN by Jennifer Robson is
a lovely book that is so much more than just about wedding gowns.
There is a story behind the gowns about the people who design and
create these masterpieces. Robson shares a behind the scene story
about the wedding gown worn by Princess Elizabeth in 1947, the
friendship between two women who helped to make the dress, and how
their friendship helped them both survive.
The war is over, but there are still food and coal shortages, and the
entire country is still dealing with the side effects of war. The hardships
that people are facing at this time are unimaginative. But despite the
desperate times, a royal wedding is in the making, that will hopefully
boost the spirit of the people and give them hope for the future.
Ann and Miriam quickly become friends while working as embroiderers
at the same fashion house. They are both chosen to embroider the
wedding gown which is a great honor in their dreary lives. The wedding
was very exciting for the British - it represented Britain coming out of
the bad years of the war. It provided hope to the people that a bright
future is on the horizon.
Next, readers are taken to modern-day Canada, when a beloved
grandmother dies and leaves her granddaughter, Heather, some
embroidered flowers. Heather wonders about her grandmother's life in
England and decides to investigate. Heather discovers a story of love
and the fear of the unknown. As Heather learns more about her
grandmother's work on the royal wedding dress, she meets an artist
who knew her grandmother and shares a past with her...
Robson writes a lovely story that is heartfelt and at times a tear jerker.
She has done her research and it shows on each page you read. An
interesting story about a topic that many never given much thought to -
the amount of work that could go into a wedding gown. THE GOWN is a wonderfully written
historical fiction that is captivating. An intriguing inside look that sheds
lights on the wedding that started the fanatical interest in the royal
family.
From the internationally bestselling author of Somewhere
in France comes an enthralling historical novel about
one of the most famous wedding dresses of the twentieth
century—Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown—and the fascinating
women who made it.
“Millions will welcome this joyous event as a flash of
color on the long road we have to travel.”—Sir Winston Churchill on the news of Princess
Elizabeth’s forthcoming wedding
London, 1947: Besieged by the harshest winter in living
memory, burdened by onerous shortages and rationing, the
people of postwar Britain are enduring lives of quiet
desperation despite their nation’s recent victory. Among
them are Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, embroiderers at the
famed Mayfair fashion house of Norman Hartnell. Together
they forge an unlikely friendship, but their nascent hopes
for a brighter future are tested when they are chosen for a
once-in-a-lifetime honor: taking part in the creation of
Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown.
Toronto, 2016: More than half a century later, Heather
Mackenzie seeks to unravel the mystery of a set of
embroidered flowers, a legacy from her late grandmother. How
did her beloved Nan, a woman who never spoke of her old life
in Britain, come to possess the priceless embroideries that
so closely resemble the motifs on the stunning gown worn by
Queen Elizabeth II at her wedding almost seventy years
before? And what was her Nan’s connection to the celebrated
textile artist and holocaust survivor Miriam Dassin?
With The Gown, Jennifer Robson takes us inside the
workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in
history was created. Balancing behind-the-scenes details
with a sweeping portrait of a society left reeling by the
calamitous costs of victory, she introduces readers to three
unforgettable heroines, their points of view alternating and
intersecting throughout its pages, whose lives are woven
together by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship,
and the redemptive power of love.
It is a great read and really gives you a very authentic view of the times. Very well researched, Can see why it is getting such rave reviews! (Audrey Lawrence 8:22pm January 13, 2019)
Oh man! This sounds fascinating! Thanks for the introduction and review! And thanks, Audrey, for your comment! (Kathleen Bylsma 3:42pm January 25, 2019)
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