“A buoyant tale about the path to acceptance and joy–beginning, like all journeys, with one brave step.”–People“The best-selling novelist has done a masterful job of depicting the circumstances of a generation of women we seldom think about: the mothers, sisters, wives and fiances of men lost in World War I, whose job it was to remember those lost but not forgotten.”–Associated PressA BEST … forgotten.”–Associated Press
A BEST BOOK OF 2019 with The New York Public Library | USA TODAY | Real Simple | Good Housekeeping | Chicago Sun Time | TIME | PopSugar | The New York Post | Parade
1932. After the Great War took both her beloved brother and her fiancé, Violet Speedwell has become a “surplus woman,” one of a generation doomed to a life of spinsterhood after the war killed so many young men. Yet Violet cannot reconcile herself to a life spent caring for her grieving, embittered mother. After countless meals of boiled eggs and dry toast, she saves enough to move out of her mother’s place and into the town of Winchester, home to one of England’s grandest cathedrals. There, Violet is drawn into a society of broderers–women who embroider kneelers for the Cathedral, carrying on a centuries-long tradition of bringing comfort to worshippers.
Violet finds support and community in the group, fulfillment in the work they create, and even a growing friendship with the vivacious Gilda. But when forces threaten her new independence and another war appears on the horizon, Violet must fight to put down roots in a place where women aren’t expected to grow. Told in Chevalier’s glorious prose, A Single Thread is a timeless story of friendship, love, and a woman crafting her own life.
more
I’m a fan of Tracy Chevalier because I learn something new in each of her novels. Here, she delves into the arts of embroidery and bell ringing – as in church bells. She also holds a magnifying glass and shines a spotlight on whatever period of history she sets her books in. A Single Thread explores the tragic losses of WWI and how longlasting and widespread they were, along with the concept of Surplus Women, who would never find husbands after the war because so many men were lost, and who must make their own way in the world. As always, this author presents complex, difficult themes with eloquence and sensitivity.
What a beautifully gorgeous book. So filled with everything I love about a book. And while it does have a good ending [a proper ending for this book IMO], it is not the “happily ever after” that so many are searching for when then read a book – this ending was real life. This is what happened back then and it happens now and I felt the author handled the whole story so well. What a joy [even as I am crying and will be dealing with book hangover] it was to read this book.
I know nothing about needlepoint – my mom dappled in it for awhile before moving onto counted cross stitch [which I also do not know anything about nor do I enjoy it, the one time I tried. It involves math and well, I just don’t math at all], and we have what she made, but other than that, I know nothing. So that aspect of the book was fascinating to me – to sit and make kneelers and cushions for a cathedral – pieces that no one will really think about, that will be taken for granted – well, that takes special people indeed and I was glad to learn that these women are still [in real life] making and restoring the cushions at Winchester Cathedral.
I know a little about bells – not all the intricacies that they go into in the book, but I know some [from people and from a TV show I watch], and I know and love music, so it was absolutely fascinating to learn all that the author writes about the bells. What an amazing process and I would so love to be near where bells are rung on a regular basis. And to be able to sit in on a session? WOW. That would be the coolest thing ever.
Violet is so many women of that time [1932] – caught in the space between the wars, with little prospects, learning still to live with the grief of loved ones lost and also learning to live with the underlying fear that Hitler was starting to employ as his rise to power began, and also learning to live with the idea that there will be no husband, no babies, just a life of loneliness and drudgery and work and the possibility of being a burden to ones already [possibly] burdened family. I loved watching her find her spunk, her independence and watching her learn what true friendship was and how that often makes you unpopular, especially in an era that frowned on ANYTHING that seemed abhorrent or deviant. I loved her story, warts and all, and she will be staying with me for a very long time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Viking Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love Tracy Chevalier’s historical fiction and A Single Thread is no exception! It’s the story of Violet, one of the “surplus women” in post World War I England and her struggle to build a life for herself after losing her fiance in the war. Very well developed characters and richly, wonderfully detailed (as all of Chevalier’s books are). I especially loved learning about the broderers and bell ringers at Winchester Cathedral. This is a must-read for fans of historical women’s fiction.
I love when authors have true information in their stories because I find history very interesting and in this book, you come to know who and how the kneelers came to be and what was their purpose. I was taken back in time and enjoyed it very much.
I love when I find a book that surprises me. I knew nothing about the world of the embroiders and it was truly fascinating.
The author transported me to Winchester Cathedral 1932 and made feel a part of this world. It was a very challenging time in England as so many were still hurting from WWI and as the beginning rumblings of Nazi Germany were just beginning.
I could not put this one down and highly recommend.
An interesting story about the era and life in England.
A beautiful location very well described and a strong woman who tries to find her way in life after the ost of her fiancee and brother due to the war.
The community and the support she’s receiving it’s a great help to find herself and dream of a better future away from her mother and family.
If you like historical stories this book is perfect for you.
Deep dive into surplus women post WWI. How constricted were their options. How to survive on fish paste sandwiches & beans over toast. How to be independent, proud, brave, resourceful while hoping for love.
Amazing history of church embroidery if you are interested.
This book is quite a departure from other books I have read by Tracy Chevalier. If I weren’t already a fan, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. The subject matter, needlepoint workers and bell ringers at Winchester Cathedral, is well outside my area of interest. That said, the characters and social issues, (a surplus of single women in England after WWI, poverty, misogyny and other forms of repression, women helping each other), were interesting and well-developed. Chevalier has her usual good pacing and there are surprising plot twists.
I like everything Tracy Chevaliar writes
This wasn’t my favorite Tracy Chevalier, but she never disappoints. Well researched. Characters you could genuinely care about. Opened a door into a world I know little about.
The writing in this book is spectacular. Chevalier really brings you into the setting and brings it to life. But I found the main character Violet the most boring character in the entire book. The side characters steal the show and Violet just kind of seems pushed along. She shows strength on occasion, but it’s a wavering kind of strength that comes across as sniping at times.
All in all, the story is nice and it’s a relaxing read. If you like Tracy’s other work, you’ll like this.
I found it enjoyable and easy to read.
I’ve been a Chevalier fan for a long time and don’t even read the blurb when I see a new book by her. I just hit the “buy now” button.
The Virgin Blue and The Last Runaway are two of my favorites. I’m now adding a third — A Single Thread.
As usual, Chevalier transports the reader into another time and leaves us feeling like we were there. Her characters live on long after we have finished reading the book.
This time we are entranced by Violet’s life as a “surplus woman.” She’s one of the left overs after WWI living in a time when single women have few options — take care of an aging parent or toil away at a menial job scraping by on a devastingly low salary. We hold our breath and cross our fingers as Violet struggles to make more of her life. Will she triumph? Please, please let her succeed against the odds.
BLURB
1932. After the Great War took both her beloved brother and her fiancé, Violet Speedwell has become a “surplus woman,” one of a generation doomed to a life of spinsterhood after the war killed so many young men. Yet Violet cannot reconcile herself to a life spent caring for her grieving, embittered mother. After countless meals of boiled eggs and dry toast, she saves enough to move out of her mother’s place and into the town of Winchester, home to one of England’s grandest cathedrals. There, Violet is drawn into a society of broderers–women who embroider kneelers for the Cathedral, carrying on a centuries-long tradition of bringing comfort to worshippers.
Violet finds support and community in the group, fulfillment in the work they create, and even a growing friendship with the vivacious Gilda. But when forces threaten her new independence and another war appears on the horizon, Violet must fight to put down roots in a place where women aren’t expected to grow. Told in Chevalier’s glorious prose, A Single Thread is a timeless story of friendship, love, and a woman crafting her own life.
http://www.darlenejonesauthor.com
This book has a lot of British terms with which I’m not familiar, however, the story line eventually caught my attention. It ran the gamut of emotions, and I enjoyed learning some of the history of post-war life in Great Britain. Numerous characters, each with their own story. I recommend this book.
Tracey Chevalier always does a good job weaving history into her books. I learn so much as she makes her characters come to life in each setting. This book ventured into history I knew nothing about. Very well done.
Always love her books.
I savor anything Tracy Chevalier writes. I always learn a great deal about everyday women’s lives in a particular area. Her writing is informative and sympathetic in a no holds barred view of women within societies that do not value them
Its well written. The characters are interesting. I particularly enjoyed the world of sewers in the cathedral. It’s worth a read.
This isn’t a mystery, but it’s cozy in many ways. The main character takes up embroidery, stitching cushions and kneelers with a group of other volunteer women for the Winchester Cathedral. This is 1930s Britain, with all the difficulties a single woman of 38 faces regarding work opportunities and social limitations. Tracy Chevalier, who wrote the bestselling Girl with a Pearl Earring develops her characters beautifully and puts us in their world so perfectly that we suffer and cheer along with them on every page.
Enjoyable