THE SEAMSTRESS is a historical
fiction set in Paris in 1788. It begins in the countryside town of Mouton
Blanc, named for the white sheep that produce prized wool. Two
orphaned cousins, Laurette and Renee are taken in by widower Emile
Gagnon. At 22, he is a good Christian man who loves God and his
country. He lost his wife in childbirth and lives on the farm left by his
parents. He cares for the girls who sleep in a loft above the barn. There
at night, the girls share their secrets, hopes, and dreams and are very
close.
One day a royal coach overturns near the farm and Gagnon invites
them in. He fixes the broken wheel as Renee mends the torn dress worn
by the lady from the coach. She is Madame Gisela, a member of the
court of Queen Antoinette. She is impressed with Renee's needlework
and convinces her to come back to the palace with her and serve as a
seamstress to the queen. When Renee asks Gagnon what she should
do, Gagnon leaves the decision to her and she leaves for Versailles for
a new beginning. It is one she never dreamed could happen to her. She
becomes the queen's "pet," gets close to the queen's children, and
finds a very tall, handsome queen's guard, Bertrand, to fall in love
with...
Lurette falls in love with Marcel, a friend who visits Gagnon. Marcel has
no family or home and seems to have no problem finding a roof over his
head. He is very political and hates royalty. He argues with Gagnon who
does not share his values and beliefs. Gagnon warns Laurette to stay
away from Marcel, who has no ambition and is a ladies man. She does
not listen and at Marcel's urgings she helps him steal a neighbor's
horse and they ride into Paris. There Laurette is left alone in a dingy
room while Marcel attends meetings about the overthrow of the
government. The brutal, bloody French Revolution is starting and
Marcel is leading the way. Laurette becomes pregnant, is lonely, and
wants to return home. Laurette finds love for herself and her child with
Gagnon, who truly becomes a hero. I loved him.
It is obvious that author Allison Pittman has researched in great detail
for THE SEAMSTRESS. As an
English teacher teaching A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens,
she came across a character that was a seamstress who lost her head
to the guillotine. It was a story she had to tell and what a great story it
is. The descriptions of the bloodthirsty starving French people who
attack the Palace is very descriptive and frightening. Historical fiction
is my favorite genre and THE
SEAMSTRESS is a delight. Two heroines to cheer for, with
descriptions of life with the royals an added addition. I enjoyed and
recommend this book to everyone who loves history, a Paris locale, and
sterling characters. It was impossible to put this book down as you
follow the journeys of Laurette and Renee, One happy ending, one very
sad. You will love THE
SEAMSTRESS. Merci!
A beautifully crafted story breathes life into the cameo
character from the classic novel A Tale of Two
Cities.
France, 1788 It is the best of
times . . .
On a tranquil farm nestled in the
French countryside, two orphaned cousins—Renée and
Laurette—have been raised under the caring guardianship of
young Émile Gagnon, the last of a once-prosperous family. No
longer starving girls, Laurette and Renée now spend days
tending Gagnon's sheep, and nights in their cozy loft,
whispering secrets and dreams in this time of waning
innocence and peace.
It is the worst of times . .
.
Paris groans with a restlessness that can no
longer be contained within its city streets. Hunger and
hatred fuel her people. Violence seeps into the ornate halls
of Versailles. Even Gagnon’s table in the quiet village of
Mouton Blanc bears witness to the rumbles of rebellion,
where Marcel Moreau embodies its voice and
heart.
It is the story that has never been
told.
In one night, the best and worst of fate
collide. A chance encounter with a fashionable woman will
bring Renée’s sewing skills to light and secure a place in
the court of Queen Marie Antoinette. An act of reckless
passion will throw Laurette into the arms of the
increasingly militant Marcel. And Gagnon, steadfast in his
faith in God and country, can only watch as those he loves
march straight into the heart of the revolution.
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