A Single Thread, Tracy Chevalier
A Single Thread, Tracy Chevalier
6 Rating(s)
List: $22.50 | Sale: $15.75
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A Single Thread

Author: Tracy Chevalier

Narrator: Fenella Woolgar

Unabridged: 10 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 09/17/2019

Synopsis

"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.

About The Author

Tracy Chevalier is the New York Times bestselling author of nine previous novels, including Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has been translated into forty-three languages and made into an Oscar-nominated film. Born and raised in Washington, DC, she lives in London with her husband and son.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Ceecee on October 10, 2021

In a world that increasingly appears to have gone mad this book is a soothing, calming balm! This story is understated, gentle and about a bye gone age when societies rules and foibles are usually strictly obeyed. Tracy Chevalier is an author who can create a picture, a character and an atmosphere w......more

Goodreads review by Angela M on July 21, 2019

Violet inadvertently walks into the Winchester Cathedral during a ceremony for the “broderers” and is taken with the embroidered kneelers. I was not and the first part of the book was a trudge for me. I was bored. I kept reading, though, because I admired how Violet asserted her independence and mov......more

Goodreads review by Tammy on May 30, 2019

Despite having neither the temperament nor the talent to actively engage in the fiber arts, I have always had an interest in them. My forays into the world of knitting and needlepoint have resulted in frustration and, I sheepishly admit, swearing like a sailor. We have a world renowned art museum he......more

Goodreads review by Esil on July 21, 2019

3.25 stars A Single Thread had the ingredients for the kind of novel I usually love, but unfortunately I found it quite flat in the delivery. The story is set in the early 1930s, and focuses on Violet. Violet is 37 years old, and thinks of herself as a “surplus woman”. She wasn’t able to marry becaus......more

Goodreads review by Julie on December 07, 2019

Britain lost an estimated two percent of its population during World War I. It sounds insignificant, but that loss represented a generation of men who would have otherwise been wage-earners, husbands and fathers. In the wake of their loss was a generation of women who were left without fathers, brot......more

Quotes

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

Praise for A Single Thread:

"Set in the 1930s, Chevalier's new novel follows a woman whose fiance died in Wold War I and who finds a sense of community among the guild of needlewomen embroidering kneelers for the pews at one of Britain's great cathedrals." —New York Times Book Review 

“In times of grave discomfort, Tracy Chevalier offers a welcome respite...with manners and chortle-inducing humor that would make Jane Austen proud.”—USA Today

"The plot, and Chevalier's delicate handling of Violet's love interest, is seamless...A Single Thread is a fascinating story about building something long-lasting by beginning with one small stich."—NPR

“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

"This novel will stay with you for a long time, and may be Chevalier's best yet." —Irish Times

“A buoyant tale about the path to acceptance and joy—beginning, like all journeys, with one brave step.”—People

“A well-woven story of love…reading this is deeply pleasurable and the ending made me cry.”—The Times UK

“Chevalier excels at detailing the creative process, humanizing historical figures and capturing everyday life."—Publishers Weekly

"A Single Thread is a soft-spoken story with so much heart. The characters are lovely; they are people you want to know more about even after you have turned the last page. They all have their secrets, their fears and their faults. But they come together for each other when needed, and those threads make for a delightful read." —BookReporter

"Chevalier subtly weaves their captivating story toward a satisfying conclusion that makes A Single Thread into a singular sensation."—Washington Independent Review of Books

“Tracy Chevalier once again proves herself a reflective and generous crafter of smart, thoughtful popular fiction.”—Newsday.com

"A compelling portrait of women not lost but thriving against the odds.”—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Tracy Chevalier:

"Chevalier is a master at foregrounding the small, dramatic stories of overlooked people from the past."  —Geraldine Brooks, author of The Secret Chord

"A master of voices." —The New York Times Book Review

"Chevalier's ringing prose is as radiantly efficient as well-tended silver." —Entertainment Weekly

"Chevalier's signature talent lies in bringing alive the ordinary day-to-dayness of the past." —Elle

Praise for At The Edge of the Orchard:

"Sometimes, a book comes along that somehow ticks all the boxes. This is one of those books: The voices are rich and individual; the attention to detail impressive; the scent of apples, damp earth, and pines runs potently through the whole. A joy." —Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat

"With impeccable research and flawless prose, Chevalier perfectly conjures the grandeur of the pristine Wild West Robert encounters, the bawdiness of the period, and the commanding needs of the everyday adventurers—male and female— who were bold enough or foolish enough to be drawn to the unknown. She crafts for us an excellent experience."—USA Today

"Excellently researched . . . brings to life a seminal chapter in American history. . . . A compelling look at what was lost and gained in westward expansion." —People

"Chevalier's research is painstakingly detailed without weighing down the story . . . Chevalier has created a patchwork of stories . . . together they form a picture of lives wrested from an unforgiving land, but with a promise of renewal." —The Guardian

"A satisfyingly slow, character-driven historical novel about friendship, sexuality, and choices."—Real Simple

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