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.

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.

AUDIOFILE REVIEW

Marisa Calin narrates this novel about the making of Princess (now Queen) Elizabeth’s wedding dress during an intense six months in London in 1947. Calin’s flowing voice smoothly describes the lives of the women involved, including Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, who sewed the gown and embroidered the incredible designs on the garment in Norman Hartnell’s couturier studio. British native Ann is given a slightly crisp accent, which contrasts with Parisian Miriam’s soft French tones. Calin uses a hard Canadian accent for Ann’s Canadian granddaughter, Hannah, who searches for clues about her grandmother in present-day London. Descriptions of the meticulous embroidery are filled with images of beaded flowers on satin and lace. The women’s passion for needlework is infectious. The beautiful gown and the excitement surrounding its creation come to life through Calin’s exceptional performance. M.B.K. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2019]