A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier @Tracy_Chevalier @BoroughPress @HarperCollinsUK #ASingleThread #historicalfiction #5stars #mustread

Book Synopsis:

It is 1932, and the losses of the First World War are still keenly felt.

Violet Speedwell, mourning for both her fiancé and her brother and regarded by society as a ‘surplus woman’ unlikely to marry, resolves to escape her suffocating mother and strike out alone.

A new life awaits her in Winchester. Yes, it is one of draughty boarding-houses and sidelong glances at her naked ring finger from younger colleagues; but it is also a life gleaming with independence and opportunity. Violet falls in with the broderers, a disparate group of women charged with embroidering kneelers for the Cathedral, and is soon entwined in their lives and their secrets. As the almost unthinkable threat of a second Great War appears on the horizon Violet collects a few secrets of her own that could just change everything…

Warm, vivid and beautifully orchestrated, A Single Thread reveals one of our finest modern writers at the peak of her powers.

A Single Thread is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I absolutely love this author! She’s one of my go to author’s for historical fiction as you know you’re going to get a fantastic read. A Single Thread is no exception and I so enjoyed this compelling, absorbing read that I will be recommending to everyone.

Firstly the historical detail in this book is brilliant, especially as it contained information I didn’t know that much about. I was lucky enough to hear this author speak at The Cheltenham Literature Festival and it was fascinating to learn how she did research for her books. The subject of so called ‘excess woman’ was an interesting one which I hadn’t heard of before but which obviously makes sense after the war. Societies attitude toward them and the options available to them, apart from marriage, was quite shocking as it was hardly their fault. The author also includes the Winchester broderers which was a real group! I really enjoyed learning more about them and the wonderful sounding embroidery they did for the cathedral, some of which is still used.

I loved the main character Violet and enjoyed following her story in her quest for independence. She’s one of the excess women I mentioned previously as her fiancé was sadly killed in the war but she is unwilling to settle for the spinster life society expects her to have. Instead of staying home to look after her mother, she moves away and starts a new life. I quickly warmed to Violet in the first few pages of the book when we learn about her overbearing mother so was completely on her side. She is an incredibly brave, strong woman who is unwilling to give up despite society being against her at times. It was lovely to follow her on her journey and to witness her starting her new life and making new friends.

Overall I thought this was a compelling, absorbing read which I found hard to put down as I was so involved in the story. There is always something happening in Violet’s world to keep the reader thoroughly intrigued. The story is beautifully plotted going between funny moments to poignant ones which made me want to keep reading as I had to know what would happen next.

I thought the ending was perfect and a fabulous way to end the book. I had tears in my eyes as I read the last few pages and I felt very sad to have left Violet and her world behind. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author!

Huge thanks to Borough Press for my copy of this book via Netgalley. Though I did great myself to a hardback copy so I could get Tracy to sign it at Cheltenham! 😍

About The Author:

Tracy is the author of 10 novels, including the international bestseller GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING, which has sold over 5 million copies and been made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth. American by birth, British by geography, she lives in London with her husband and son. Her latest novel, A SINGLE THREAD, is set in and around Winchester Cathedral in the 1930s, and involves embroidery, bellringing, and an adventurous heroine. Her website http://www.tchevalier.com will tell you more about her and her books.

Photo: Jonathan Drori