Miriam has recently arrived from France and is struggling to rebuild her life as a Holocaust survivor. I appreciate her love of gardening and her upbeat outlook on life in spite of her financial struggles. Ann is a hard working, single girl who is dedicated to her job in the workroom of the fashion house, enduring long hours of tedious and exacting work. The Gown has so much more to offer than that (the subtitle is a bit misleading).Ĭharacters: I love the two well developed 1947 characters (and timeline). The Royal Wedding is a small part of the story so don’t stay away if you’re not enamored with the Royal Family.

With the exception of one ***trigger warning, it’s a light, engaging, and lovely read that’s rich in vivid historical details and thoughtful themes.

It falls into the category of “must read” for fans who are looking for non World War histfic. Loved It: I loved this well-researched story of 1940s London, strong women, friendship, and the making of a famous wedding gown. There’s more to the story than the dress as the author gives us an idea of what life was like in 1940s London, and explores themes of friendship, family, and love. A third perspective and modern timeline follows one of their granddaughters who travels to London a half century later to unravel her grandmother’s mysterious and secret past. Although the girls are accustomed to working on exclusive gowns for high profile clients and the Royal family, the newest assignment of a wedding gown for Princess (Queen) Elizabeth brings extraordinary pressure and excitement. Told from two perspectives, we hear the imagined story of two young women who work for the famous fashion house of Norman Hartnell. As the people of England endure a harsh winter and post war shortages and rationing, news of a Royal wedding brightens the country’s spirit. The Gown is, in part, a behind-the-scenes story of the making of Princess (Queen) Elizabeth’s wedding gown.

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Royal Wedding, 1940s England

The gown novel