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The Gown

A Novel of the Royal Wedding

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The Gown

Written by: Jennifer Robson
Narrated by: Marisa Calin
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About this listen

From the internationally best-selling author of Somewhere in France comes an enthralling historical novel about one of the most famous wedding dresses of the 20th century - Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown - and the fascinating women who made it.

“Millions will welcome this joyous event as a flash of color on the long road we have to travel.” (Sir Winston Churchill on the news of Princess Elizabeth’s forthcoming wedding)

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 70 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 listeners to three unforgettable heroines, their points of view alternating and intersecting throughout, whose lives are woven together by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship, and the redemptive power of love.

©2018 Jennifer Robson (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers
Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance Royalty Fiction England Feel-Good Wedding
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What listeners say about The Gown

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Good story,

Interesting, plausible story of working class girls immediately after the end of WWII
Hard tome to put down. Didn't especially care for narrators efforts at some of the male voices but was able to not let that spoil the story.

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Very enjoyable!

Enjoyed this very much, as it is a 'side' that is not discussed much but should be!

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Loved it!

I loved listening to this book, the characters were so real and the ending was beautiful

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The crown

A wonderful story about frienship amidst problems of the two female friends. Very interesting given that the story I’d in two different is

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Terrific

A GREATstory, told by a fantastic reader! If you love royalty-related stuff... this is the tale for you!

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I loved this book.

This is a story about the relationship of two women who met after WW2. The reader was able to speak with an English accent, a French accent and a Canadian accent which really brought the story to life. Keep some tissues handy for the last hour, I think you may need them. I did.



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Beautifully structured

Jennifer Robson offers the readers of 'The Gown' reason for celebration in a world that today too often appears cold and uncaring. Though her work realistically describes challenges often still experienced today, she inserts a level of a caring humanity that offers the reader respite from the troubling news that too often eclipses the generosity of spirit so greatly needed in our communities.

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Engaging, Charming

Lovely story, not too intense yet still riveting. Three main, well-developed female characters. I was invested in all of them, which is a rarity. I lost sleep listening to this one.
SPECTACULAR Narrator!

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Lovely peek into a different world

I remember my mother reading a book about Norman Hartnell and I was entranced by the gowns. This was a great story with lots of interesting facts woven into it. The Narration was superb!!

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enjoyable

loved it, learned a lot of interesting things about that wedding I wasn't aware of.
this being my first audiobook I found it very good and easy to follow along.

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