Overview

"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 weddingLondon, 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."

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9781982552862

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Reviews

A fascinating glimpse into the world of design, the healing power of art, and the importance of women's friendships. -- Kirkus Reviews Robson's meticulous attention to historical details-notably the intricacies of the embroidery work-is a wonderful complement to the memorable stories of Ann and Miriam, making for a winning, heartwarming tale. -- Publishers Weekly Once I started reading, I couldn't put this novel down. The story is engaging, memorable, and beautifully imagined. -- Jeanne Mackin, author of The Beautiful American The Gown is marvelous and moving, a vivid portrait of female self-reliance in a world racked by the cost of war. -- Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network Alternating time lines between 1947 Britain and 2016 Canada, Robson vividly brings to life these three women's struggles. Historical details about fabric, embroidery, and the royal family are well incorporated into their stories, with light romance rounding out this charming work of historical fiction. -- Library Journal Embroidering a magical moment in royal history, Robson tells a heartrending story of friendship, loss, love, and redemption. -- Leslie Carroll, author of American Princess

A fascinating glimpse into the world of design, the healing power of art, and the importance of women's friendships. -- Kirkus Reviews Robson's meticulous attention to historical details-notably the intricacies of the embroidery work-is a wonderful complement to the memorable stories of Ann and Miriam, making for a winning, heartwarming tale. -- Publishers Weekly Once I started reading, I couldn't put this novel down. The story is engaging, memorable, and beautifully imagined. -- Jeanne Mackin, author of The Beautiful American Embroidering a magical moment in royal history, Robson tells a heartrending story of friendship, loss, love, and redemption. -- Leslie Carroll, author of American Princess Alternating time lines between 1947 Britain and 2016 Canada, Robson vividly brings to life these three women's struggles. Historical details about fabric, embroidery, and the royal family are well incorporated into their stories, with light romance rounding out this charming work of historical fiction. -- Library Journal The Gown is marvelous and moving, a vivid portrait of female self-reliance in a world racked by the cost of war. -- Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network

A fascinating glimpse into the world of design, the healing power of art, and the importance of women's friendships. -- Kirkus Reviews Robson's meticulous attention to historical details-notably the intricacies of the embroidery work-is a wonderful complement to the memorable stories of Ann and Miriam, making for a winning, heartwarming tale. -- Publishers Weekly The Gown is marvelous and moving, a vivid portrait of female self-reliance in a world racked by the cost of war. -- Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network Alternating time lines between 1947 Britain and 2016 Canada, Robson vividly brings to life these three women's struggles. Historical details about fabric, embroidery, and the royal family are well incorporated into their stories, with light romance rounding out this charming work of historical fiction. -- Library Journal Embroidering a magical moment in royal history, Robson tells a heartrending story of friendship, loss, love, and redemption. -- Leslie Carroll, author of American Princess Once I started reading, I couldn't put this novel down. The story is engaging, memorable, and beautifully imagined. -- Jeanne Mackin, author of The Beautiful American

Robson's meticulous attention to historical details-notably the intricacies of the embroidery work-is a wonderful complement to the memorable stories of Ann and Miriam, making for a winning, heartwarming tale. -- Publishers Weekly Once I started reading, I couldn't put this novel down. The story is engaging, memorable, and beautifully imagined. -- Jeanne Mackin, author of The Beautiful American The Gown is marvelous and moving, a vivid portrait of female self-reliance in a world racked by the cost of war. -- Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network Embroidering a magical moment in royal history, Robson tells a heartrending story of friendship, loss, love, and redemption. -- Leslie Carroll, author of American Princess Alternating time lines between 1947 Britain and 2016 Canada, Robson vividly brings to life these three women's struggles. Historical details about fabric, embroidery, and the royal family are well incorporated into their stories, with light romance rounding out this charming work of historical fiction. -- Library Journal

A fascinating glimpse into the world of design, the healing power of art, and the importance of women's friendships. -- Kirkus Reviews Robson's meticulous attention to historical details-notably the intricacies of the embroidery work-is a wonderful complement to the memorable stories of Ann and Miriam, making for a winning, heartwarming tale. -- Publishers Weekly Once I started reading, I couldn't put this novel down. The story is engaging, memorable, and beautifully imagined. -- Jeanne Mackin, author of The Beautiful American The Gown is marvelous and moving, a vivid portrait of female self-reliance in a world racked by the cost of war. -- Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network Embroidering a magical moment in royal history, Robson tells a heartrending story of friendship, loss, love, and redemption. -- Leslie Carroll, author of American Princess Alternating time lines between 1947 Britain and 2016 Canada, Robson vividly brings to life these three women's struggles. Historical details about fabric, embroidery, and the royal family are well incorporated into their stories, with light romance rounding out this charming work of historical fiction. -- Library Journal

Author Information

Jennifer Robson is the USA Today and #1 Toronto Globe & Mail bestselling author of Somewhere in France, After the War is Over and Moonlight Over Paris. She holds a doctorate from Saint Antony's College, University of Oxford. She lives in Toronto with her husband and young children. Marisa Calin is an actress, novelist, and Earphones Award-winning narrator born in England and educated in New York at the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts. An artist with a flair for everything literary, she has written a young adult novel, You & Me, which received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.

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