Title: The Gown   

Author: Jennifer Robson  

Genre: Historical Fiction  

Publisher: William Morrow Books  

Format: Paperback

Pages: 371

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis (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.

“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.

Review:

I absolutely loved this book! Thank you so much to @harpercollinsca for sending me a copy!

The book takes place in 1947 and 2016. In the past, Ann is an embroiderer who works for the man who designs dresses for the royal family. When Princess Elizabeth becomes engaged, Ann must work with the other women to make a spectacular dress.

Mariam also works with Ann, and she has a dark and mysterious history with the war. She is looking at starting over and moves from France to England to begin again.

Shift to 2016 and Heather is devastated to learn her grandmother has died. When she discovers a box of her old things, she starts to realize that she didn’t really know her grandmother and needs to unravel some of her past mysteries!

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, then I definitely recommend this book. It had so many great aspects, including a gripping plot and characters you have no trouble connecting with. My heart went out to each of the women for the hard times that they had to endure, and I also loved reading how Queen Elizabeth’s dress would have been made for the royal wedding! An interesting time in history, and Robson makes you feel like you’re actually there!

Happy reading!