Do yourself a favor and step into the enchanting novel that is The Gown.
Before we get into the book review, let’s clear up a possible misconception: although the title of this book refer to a royal wedding gown, this novel isn’t what I would call “royal fiction.” The Gown is a behind-the-scenes story that shines a spotlight on the regular ol’ folks responsible for creating the grandeur of then-Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress, as well as many of the ensembles donned by the regency and aristocrats of the time.
Don’t get me wrong: lovers of The Crown will enjoy this one, but I think those who love historical fiction — and a sweet, endearing story about friendship and determination — will appreciate The Gown more.
Author Jennifer Robson’s gorgeous writing draws you into the harsh but hopeful post-WW2 world in which embroiderer Ann Hughes and her friend Miriam Dassin live — a world in which most of London subsists on food rations, rolling blackouts, and a depressing lack of basic supplies. These two women feel so incredibly real, it’s like you’re sitting with them in their living room, listening to their conversations over a pot of tea. You share their moments of triumph and hardship, both past and present; you’re cheering them on and consoling their broken hearts like any good friend would.
This sense of female camaraderie radiates throughout the novel, not just between Ann and Miriam, but between all the women in the Hartnell workrooms as they bustle together to create a royal wedding gown. The excitement in the book is contagious, and you soon find yourself swept up in the drama and anticpation of the big day.
Also peppered into the story is Heather’s present-day point of view; Heather’s on a quest to learn more about her late grandmother, who, unbeknownst to everyone in her family, worked on the queen’s wedding gown decades earlier. Each point of view is filled with warmth, love, and the irrepressible will to make a life of beauty despite the bleakness in which they currently live.
I fully enjoyed reading about Ann and Heather, but I really fell in love with Miriam, the French Jewish woman who survived the horrors of Ravensbruck. Her sweet, delicate demeanor belies a backbone of steel, and after hearing her brave and difficult story, you can’t help but root with every fiber of your being for her to get her happy ending.
The Gown actually reminded me a lot of A Single Thread. The theme of independent women making their way in post-war worlds runs through both novels, not to mention the exquisite attention to detail that goes into describing the art of embroidery and, in this case, fashion design at one of London’s most prestigious houses.
In case you couldn’t tell, I absolutely recommend that you read The Gown. And, be sure to check back in for its book-inspired recipe: Grand-Mere’s Friday Night Chicken.
