One of the most anticipated reads from InStyle, HelloGiggles, Hypable, Bookbub, and Bookriot!
One of Real Simple’s Best Historical Fiction novels of the year!
“The Gown is marvelous and moving, a vivid portrait of female self-reliance in a world racked by the cost of war.”–Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
From the internationally bestselling author of … Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
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.
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I couldn’t put this sweet book down. Three women. Two who worked together in 1948 in England during their recovery from WWII. One modern woman who was handed a mystery to unravel about the past of her grandmother. One fabulous gown and the contributions these characters had to it. Highly recommend!
I recommend The Gown for so many reasons. The book is well-plotted: the story of the women who embroidered Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown. It is a vehicle for giving us a look at England after WWII, and to the effects of the Holocaust. Several mysteries to add to the mix. (Can you guess, I don’t want to give away the story.)
learned a lot about designer of wedding dress and post war hardships in England.
Great history fiction. Loved the characters. Easy read. Loved it.
Well-written and interesting historical fiction account of a friendship between two unlikely women in post-WWII Britain and their involvement in creating the wedding dress for Princess, now Queen, Elizabeth. Although the storyline is a dual one, the author’s narrative makes it easy to follow both timelines.
That said, I much preferred the story that took place in 1947 as I found those characters better defined and more interesting and compelling. Don’t let that wee critique keep you from reading the book-it’s an excellent story and my favorite type of novel since I found myself constantly looking up details, both to learn more about the subject and to see what was fiction and what wasn’t
This book was a wonderful read. I recommend it to all.
I love this so very much
Loved this book. Not sure why maybe because it showed how women survived through various generations. Loved the amazing details of a different era.
I admired Robson’s meticulous research in this novel about the embroiderers who worked on the bridal gown for Queen Elizabeth’s 1947 wedding.
So well written that I never got bored. To be able to write without action packed drama or mystery yet keep the reader glued to the book, genius!
Beautifully written and the relationship between the 3 main characters was moving – the authors research was especially informative and so nicely added to the true events at that time. Loved it!
I love stitching and embroidery and programs like Downton Abbey. This book spoke to the horrors of Nazi treatment of the Jews while intertwined with a tale of beautiful embroidery and strong women.
The words just flowed on the page. Subject matter was so interesting. I have a new appreciation for this work of art.
Very well written book, based on real life.
I love anything about Queen Elizabeth so
This book took me on a wedding gown mystery/adventure.
Very enjoyable read about the making of the wedding gown and other designs. The story of friendship and a granddaughters search to learn more about her grandmother.
A very interesting back story of the people behind the making of the royal wedding gown for Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II. The story centers mainly on Ann and Miriam, 2 women who work to embroider the wedding dress. Ann, a poor Londoner, befriends Miriam, an immigrant from France. They quickly become friends and work together embroidering the dress each day.
Ann is lonely, as her sister-in-law, Milly, left after being widowed and moved to Canada. Miriam has horrible memories of what happened to her family during WWII. Ann encourages Miriam in her art.
Now, 60 years later, Ann’s granddaughter, Heather, wants to find out more about her grandmother and goes to England to see what she can uncover.
Lovely story of friendship, betrayal, art, and kindness.
#TheGown #JenniferRobson
In The Gown we are treated to a unique perspective of post-World War II (1947) England through the eyes of two young women. Ann Hughes is the chief embroiderer in the fashion house of Hartnell, a designer most often called upon to furnish gowns and dresses for Britain’s Royal Family. When news reaches the workroom of Princess Elizabeth’s engagement, everyone on staff is in a state of high anticipation as they wait to see if Mr. Hartnell’s design will be the one chosen for the royal wedding gown. In fact, it was Ann who was called upon to create samples for the Queen Mum and the young princess.
Working alongside Ann is Miriam Dassin, a refugee from France. Miriam has experienced firsthand the atrocities of war: losing her family, working in the Resistance, and ultimately being confined to a death camp before Liberation. She has gathered her meager belongings and set her sights on London as the place to make a fresh start. Miriam has experience as an embroiderer in the Maison Bebe and a handful of important references. Norman Hartnell hires her on the spot.
As they work together Ann and Miriam become friends and when Ann’s sister-in-law moves to Canada, Ann invites Miriam to move into her house and share expenses. Over the course of a year, their friendship grows. Fast forward to 2016 and Heather McKenzie is in Toronto mourning the death of her grandmother, Ann Hughes, and is delighted to receive a box marked For Heather that was left to her. Inside she finds samples of intricate embroidery that lead her on a journey of discovery – back to London.
Seems that Heather’s grandmother never spoke a word of her past before moving to Toronto. What she uncovers both amazes and thrills her even as it opens a new path for her life.
Post war Britain suffered greatly; food and petrol shortages being among the worst as Britain went about the task of rebuilding not only her physical structures but the structures of people’s lives. With the entire country under an austerity program, the nuptials of Princess Elizabeth became a beacon of hope for the war-weary Brits. But with an austerity program in place, how could the cost of a royal wedding gown be condoned? Resourceful Brits didn’t mind in the least.
But this story is about so much more than the Royal Wedding. It is a story of grit and determination of the young women who were left without family or spouses after the war. It is the story of hard work and self-reliant women who found a way to move forward. It’s also the story of unscrupulous people who would do anything to earn a few extra dollars.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Gown for several reasons, not the least being my fondness for anything that centers around the British Royal Family. We are accustomed to seeing what the media shows us and it is normally from only one point of view. But getting a glimpse of the Royals from the vantage point of an embroiderer is totally unique. The setting of post-war Britain is one of my favorite time periods and it shows the resilience of her people. The characters of Ann and Miriam are strong women who have their moments of self-doubt and that makes them wonderfully human. The granddaughter too is quite likeable and it’s easy to see that she has inherited some of her grandmother’s traits.
Fans of the Royal Family and of historical fiction/romance are sure to enjoy this one as will those who enjoy family sagas.
I enjoyed the author’s perspective when writing this interesting and informative historical novel. She looked to discover who the women were that worked to create the beautiful and original gown worn by Princess Elizabeth at her royal wedding. This event instilled hope and excitement for the future in the English people who had experienced so much pain and hardship as a result of World War II. The spirits of the country were lifted in anticipation of the wedding, and the embroiderers worked tirelessly to produce a masterpiece in the form of a bridal gown. It is easy to visualize the creation as the author describes the dedication of these women to complete the task at hand. There is also the human element as we learn about the lives of Ann and Miriam, how fate brings them together, their families and pasts that define them, and their ultimate separation as their work is completed.
The Gown takes place in post-WWII London, but it is not a war story, per se. It is a story about people impoverished by war and, in particular, young women hired to sew in the studio that makes dresses and ball gowns for the Queen of England and her entourage. They are tasked with making a wedding gown for young Princess Elizabeth’s wedding to Philip Mountbatten. In their impoverished state, the temptation is great to reveal secrets about the dress to the press that are hounding them. Will they? Won’t they? Will they be tricked into revealing some details that will alter the course of their life?
THE GOWN by Jennifer Robson
Mystery, beauty, challenges and friendship made this a most satisfying reading experience. A bit of beauty brought some relief from the horrors and deprivations of wartime, a fresh start or two for those willing to work and trust and help each other. Descriptions were so rich and detailed that I could almost see the glittering beauty of the Gown and appreciate the work and artistry of the creators. My fingers began to ache a bit in sympathy with all that stitching, all those beads.I’m still trying to figure out the “tambour hook,” which looks especially difficult to use. Brava, skilled craftswomen!
Three narrators and several changes in eras could have been difficult in less able hands, but Robson’s writing is so smooth and clear that it was quite easy to follow. Ann and Miriam and Heather are likable, loving and honorable, as are most of the supporting characters, and not to spoil details, but there is a bit of justice without which I’d have felt most unsatisfied.
I find myself wishing that Miriam Dassin’s mixed-media collage Vel d’Hiv were real. I could almost see them, so well described and so with strong a message.
There is a section of background and questions for book clubs. I will be recommending THE GOWN to my group.