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Title details for A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier - Available

A Single Thread

A Novel

by Tracy Chevalier
Fenella Woolgar
Audiobook
1 of 2 copies available
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1 of 2 copies available
"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 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.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 17, 2019

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593149195
      • File size: 312802 KB
      • Duration: 10:51:40

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 1, 2019
      Chevalier (Girl with a Pearl Earring) celebrates the embroiderers of Winchester Cathedral in this appealing story of a 38-year-old spinster who learns needlecraft from real-life embroidery pioneer Louisa Pesel. In 1932, Violet Speedwell is what newspapers of the day call a surplus woman: unmarried and likely to remain so. Working as a typist in Winchester, Violet visits the cathedral, where she admires the intricate canvas embroidery on the kneelers, cushions, and other accessories. She joins the Winchester Cathedral Broderers Group and, after an unpromising start, becomes proficient under the mentorship of group founder Louisa Pesel. A fellow embroiderer introduces Violet to Arthur Knight, a 60-year-old married bell-ringer who, like Violet, has suffered the death of a loved one. Arthur protects Violet from a stalker and takes her to the bell tower to show her the ropes. Violet’s confidence grows as she learns to handle a needle, her mother, and her own desires. Chevalier excels at detailing the creative process, humanizing historical figures and capturing everyday life. With its bittersweet romance and gentle pace, Chevalier’s latest may be less powerful than her best novels, but it vividly and meticulously shows how vision, teamwork, and persistence raise needlecraft from routine stitching to an inspirational and liberating art.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Fenella Woolgar portrays Violet Speedwell, one of WWI's "surplus women." Facing a postwar life of spinsterhood, Violet is determined to make her life meaningful. The story opens as she leaves her mother's home for a fresh start in Winchester, the site of a renowned cathedral. The large cast of characters is brought to life by Woolgar's masterful tone, pacing, and use of accents to bring their diverse personalities to life. Her delivery of narrative is consistent and melodious. Violet's own voice slowly but surely gains strength as her new life takes shape. The whining bitterness of her mother, the exuberance of Gilda, the self-contained confidence of Dorothy, the overbearing impatience of Mrs. Biggins, and the friendliness of Mrs. Pesel bring the cathedral's embroiderers to life. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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