"A quiet strength sits at the heart of this lovely, gentle, and beautifully readable tale set between the two World Wars."
A lovely, gentle exploration of a bygone time, yet there is a quiet strength to this compelling read. It is also one of those books that just may surprise you. Violet Speedwell, still suffering the loss of both her fiancé and brother in the First World War, moves to Winchester in search of a new life. Canvas embroidery, bellringing, the surplus of women after the war, expectations and the judgement of society, all sit alongside each other as Violet explores new thoughts and feelings. Tracy Chevalier writes with true eloquence, the descriptions bloom, the characters sing, and she allows you to ponder, to consider. Notes of caution and unease pierce the tale, with occasional moments of biting intensity. Violet is fascinating, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her. In the acknowledgements I found out about the character who actually did exist, and I now want to explore Winchester Cathedral. Expressive and beautifully readable, A Single Thread is an engaging and rewarding tale.
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
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A fascinating book and a real eye-opener!
This is the new book from the author of Girl With A Pearl Earring and it’s every bit as good as that book.
Violet is a ‘surplus woman’, one of the many after World War I destined not to find a husband. What a terrible phrase! I knew that this was a ‘thing’ with so many men not returning after the War but, looking at it with my modern eyes, I hadn’t realised quite how difficult things were for these women trying to carve out a role for themselves in a world which still only expected them to be wives and mothers, and which was suspicious of those who weren’t.
Violet moves to nearby Winchester and falls in with the women at the cathedral who are embroidering cushions and kneelers. They meet... Read Full Review
This is an easy book to read and I found it very hard to stop reading it. Overall, an excellent story, well written and compelling.
Violet is one of the women left behind by the Great War. Having lost a brother and her fiancé in that conflict, she is a ‘surplus woman’ who has no chance or expectation of finding a husband. She lives with her mother, who is a serial complainer and makes Violet’s life miserable. But Violet wants to be independent and takes a job in Winchester to get away from her mother and to build her own life. The description’s of how Violet copes with her poverty, even though she is earning, are illuminating and vividly depict the life of a single woman at that time.
Violet becomes involved with the ‘broderers’ a group of women who embroider cushions and kneelers for the Cathedral.... Read Full Review
A highly readable book which deserves to be a best-seller
I really enjoyed reading A Single Thread and thought it was even better than Girl with a Pearl Earring. It ticked all the boxes for me - well-written, a great story and characters I cared about. Set in the 1930s - with memories of one war and fears of another - it tells the story of Violet, one of the generation affected by the loss of Britain's men due to the First World War. It's also a commentary on inter-war society and how women like Violet and her friends are daring to push against societal norms and question their own attitudes. I love that the women in the story are taking control of their own destiny, pushing back the boundaries one step at a time.... Read Full Review
