The Gown

Author: Jennifer Robson
Genre: Historical Fiction, Canadian
Type: Trade Paperback
Pages: 371
Source: Personal Copy
Publisher: William Morrow Books
First Published: December 31, 2018
Opening Lines: "It was dark when Ann left work at a quarter to six, and darker still when she reached home."

Book Description from GoodReads: 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.

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.

Rating: 5 stars

My Review: This book, written by Canadian author Jennifer Robson, is the belle of the literary ball, y'all! Ev-er-y-one is talking about this book! And rightly so.

You guuuys!! I did so love this book.

As an avid reader of Historical Fiction, getting my hands on a copy of this book was a no brainer. But I think this book would appeal to more than just Historical Fiction buffs or fans of the Royal family. The focus isn't on Princess (now Queen) Elizabeth and her royal peeps but on three unknown women. Miriam and Ann, who worked tirelessly for months in 1947 to design and embroider the beautiful embellishments on the dress that the world was eager to see and Ann's granddaughter, Heather, decades later, who is determined to piece together her grandmother's past.

Through her vivid descriptions and characterizations, Robson tells an engrossing story that incorporates history, mystery and bigger issues such as anti-Semitism, sexual consent, grief and the still deeply felt aftereffects of the Holocaust. But ultimately it is a story about resilience, love, loss and friendship. True friendship is so very powerful, and I loved that Robson focused on the healing, enduring and positive aspects of female friendship. That's some powerful stuff and a joy to read.

I'm going to give The Gown a whopping FIVE stars. Yup, I luurved it that much. This is a 'get-your-hands-on-a-copy-asap' kind of read and due to the issues raised, I think The Gown would make an excellent book club selection.