The Dressmaker

Alcott, Kate

ISBN 10: 0307970124 ISBN 13: 9780307970121

Publisher: Random House, 2012

Synopsis

Just in time for the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic comes a vivid, romantic, and relentlessly compelling historical novel about a spirited young woman who survives the disaster only to find herself embroiled in the media frenzy left in the wake of the tragedy.

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on theTitanic's doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes.

Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the tragedy. Others—including the gallant Midwestern tycoon—are not so lucky.

On dry land, rumors about the survivors begin to circulate, and Lady Duff Gordon quickly becomes the subject of media scorn and later, the hearings on theTitanic. Set against a historical tragedy but told from a completely fresh angle,The Dressmaker is an atmospheric delight filled with all the period's glitz and glamour, all the raw feelings of a national tragedy and all the contradictory emotions of young love.

About this title

Review:

"Folds compelling story into Titanic tragedy....Seamlessly stitching fact and fiction together, Alcott creates a hypnotic tale"
--USA Today
"An unashamed girlie-book....we learn a good deal about what it was like when the ship went down. But we also follow Tess as she learns about the high-fashion business in New York."
--Washington Post
"Why write a "Titanic "story not really about the "Titanic"? Because what happens to the survivors makes for interesting reading.....compelling.....Her research into the "Titanic," its sinking, and the hearings subsequently prompted is impeccable....fascinating.....actual historical figures become intricate characters in Alcott's hands."
--"Seattle Post Intelligencer
""If you want a fictional escape [about the "Titanic"], then it's time to turn to a new novel called "The Dressmaker."...the book explores complicated gender dynamics of the time, and offers a heroine you can really root for"
--NPR's All Things Considered
"Kate Alcott seamlessly stitches fact and fiction together creating this wonderfully colorful book. This story has many layers and reaches far beyond the tragedy of the "Titanic...."riveting....This novel is steeped in truth woven together with fiction making this Titanic tale feel like one never told before....beautifully told and really examines loss, love, survival and the choices made in between."
--"The Examiner
"
"While reading "The Dressmaker," I felt as if I were actually living and breathing the events before, during and after the tragedy....The novel is filled with the atmosphere, clothes, and historical figures of the times, including the Astors, "The Unsinkable" Molly Brown, and J. Bruce Ismay, the White Star's Managing Director, who cowardly boarded a lifeboat before others."
--"Huffington Post"
"It's Titanic revisited, in a romance focused on the survivors and the scandal, seen from the perspective of an aspiring seamstress whose fortunes inte

"From the minute Tess sets foot on the "Titanic," this is the kind of novel you simply cannot put down and cannot forget." --Tatiana de Rosnay, author of "Sarah's Key"
"Seamlessly stitching fact and fiction together, Alcott creates a hypnotic tale." --"USA Today"
" "
" ""Offers a heroine you can really root for." --NPR, "All Things Considered"
"A powerful, page-turning read. It's also a very valuable contribution to our understanding of the events surrounding the sinking of the "Titanic," and its aftermath." --Isabel Wolff, author of "A Vintage Affair"
"Kate Alcott's "The Dressmaker" is a beautifully told story that examines loss, love, couture and the choices we make when everything is on the line--all sewn together into one compelling read. I can't stop thinking about this book and its characters." --Sarah Jio, author of "The Violets of March" and "The Bungalow"
"[Alcott's] research into the "Titanic," its sinking, and the hearings subsequently prompted is impeccable. . . . Fascinating. . . . Historical figures become intricate characters in Alcott's hands." --"Seattle Post Intelligencer"
" "
"We're all riveted by a tragedy, but what happens to the survivors? "The Dressmaker" is that rare novel that asks not only what comes next but what we would do in a morally unspeakable situation--and how we live with those choices. A brave, truly gripping novel." --Jenna Blum, author "of Those Who Save Us
"
"Filled with the atmosphere, clothes, and historical figures of the times, including the Astors, the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, and J. Bruce Ismay, the White Star's Managing Director, who cowardly boarded a lifeboat before others." --"The""Huffington Post"
" "
"We learn a good deal about what it was like when the ship went down. But we also follow Tess as she learns about the high-fashion business in New York." --"The Washington Post"
"A fascinating and thought-provoking book that begs us all to look at the sinking of the "Titanic," how we view differences in the classes, and how we each would act in a similar situation. . . . An amazing journey." --"Bookreporter "
" "
"Brims with engrossing storytelling. . . . For fans of Sarah Jio, Susanna Kearsley, and immigrant tales." --"Booklist"
""The Dressmaker" achieves the remarkable--it makes the sinking of the "Titanic" feel like a story never told before. By focusing on the search for justice in the aftermath of the tragedy, this compelling first novel examines humanity at its best and worst, as seen through the eyes of one of the ship's survivors, a courageous young woman who is determined to make her own way in America." --Lauren Belfer, author of "A Fierce Radiance"

From the minute Tess sets foot on the "Titanic," this is the kind of novel you simply cannot put down and cannot forget. Tatiana de Rosnay, author of "Sarah s Key"
Seamlessly stitching fact and fiction together, Alcott creates a hypnotic tale. "USA Today"
""
"" Offers a heroine you can really root for. NPR, All Things Considered
A powerful, page-turning read. It s also a very valuable contribution to our understanding of the events surrounding the sinking of the "Titanic," and its aftermath. Isabel Wolff, author of "A Vintage Affair"
Kate Alcott s "The Dressmaker" is a beautifully told story that examines loss, love, couture and the choices we make when everything is on the line--all sewn together into one compelling read. I can t stop thinking about this book and its characters. Sarah Jio, author of "The Violets of March" and "The Bungalow"
[Alcott s] research into the "Titanic," its sinking, and the hearings subsequently prompted is impeccable. . . . Fascinating. . . . Historical figures become intricate characters in Alcott shands. "Seattle Post Intelligencer"
""
We re all riveted by a tragedy, but what happens to the survivors? "The Dressmaker" is that rare novel that asks not only what comes next but what we would do in a morally unspeakable situation and how we live with those choices. A brave, truly gripping novel. Jenna Blum, author "of Those Who Save Us
"
"Filled with the atmosphere, clothes, and historical figures of the times, including the Astors, the Unsinkable" Molly Brown, and J. Bruce Ismay, the White Star's Managing Director, who cowardly boarded a lifeboat before others. "The" "Huffington Post"
""
We learn agood deal about what it was like when the ship went down. But we also follow Tess as she learns about the high-fashion business in New York. "The Washington Post"
A fascinating and thought-provoking book that begs us all to look at the sinking of the "Titanic," how we view differences in the classes, and how we each would act in a similar situation. . . . An amazing journey. "Bookreporter "
""
Brims with engrossing storytelling. . . . For fans of Sarah Jio, Susanna Kearsley, and immigrant tales. "Booklist"
"The Dressmaker" achieves the remarkable itmakes the sinking of the "Titanic"feel like a story never told before. By focusing on the search for justice in the aftermath of the tragedy, this compelling first novel examines humanity at its best and worst, as seenthrough the eyes of one of the ship's survivors, acourageousyoung woman who isdetermined to make her own way in America. Lauren Belfer, author of "A Fierce Radiance""

From the minute Tess sets foot on the Titanic, this is the kind of novel you simply cannot put down and cannot forget. Tatiana de Rosnay, author of Sarah s Key
Seamlessly stitching fact and fiction together, Alcott creates a hypnotic tale. USA Today

Offers a heroine you can really root for. NPR, All Things Considered
A powerful, page-turning read. It s also a very valuable contribution to our understanding of the events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic, and its aftermath. Isabel Wolff, author of A Vintage Affair
Kate Alcott s The Dressmaker is a beautifully told story that examines loss, love, couture and the choices we make when everything is on the line--all sewn together into one compelling read. I can t stop thinking about this book and its characters. Sarah Jio, author of The Violets of March and The Bungalow
[Alcott s] research into the Titanic, its sinking, and the hearings subsequently prompted is impeccable. . . . Fascinating. . . . Historical figures become intricate characters in Alcott shands. Seattle Post Intelligencer

We re all riveted by a tragedy, but what happens to the survivors? The Dressmaker is that rare novel that asks not only what comes next but what we would do in a morally unspeakable situation and how we live with those choices. A brave, truly gripping novel. Jenna Blum, author of Those Who Save Us

"Filled with the atmosphere, clothes, and historical figures of the times, including the Astors, the Unsinkable" Molly Brown, and J. Bruce Ismay, the White Star's Managing Director, who cowardly boarded a lifeboat before others. The Huffington Post

We learn agood deal about what it was like when the ship went down. But we also follow Tess as she learns about the high-fashion business in New York. The Washington Post
A fascinating and thought-provoking book that begs us all to look at the sinking of the Titanic, how we view differences in the classes, and how we each would act in a similar situation. . . . An amazing journey. Bookreporter

Brims with engrossing storytelling. . . . For fans of Sarah Jio, Susanna Kearsley, and immigrant tales. Booklist
The Dressmaker achieves the remarkable itmakes the sinking of the Titanicfeel like a story never told before. By focusing on the search for justice in the aftermath of the tragedy, this compelling first novel examines humanity at its best and worst, as seenthrough the eyes of one of the ship's survivors, acourageousyoung woman who isdetermined to make her own way in America. Lauren Belfer, author of A Fierce Radiance

"

"From the minute Tess sets foot on the Titanic, this is the kind of novel you simply cannot put down and cannot forget." --Tatiana de Rosnay, author of Sarah's Key
"Seamlessly stitching fact and fiction together, Alcott creates a hypnotic tale." --USA Today

"Offers a heroine you can really root for." --NPR, "All Things Considered"
"A powerful, page-turning read. It's also a very valuable contribution to our understanding of the events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic, and its aftermath." --Isabel Wolff, author of A Vintage Affair
"Kate Alcott's The Dressmaker is a beautifully told story that examines loss, love, couture and the choices we make when everything is on the line--all sewn together into one compelling read. I can't stop thinking about this book and its characters." --Sarah Jio, author of The Violets of March and The Bungalow
"[Alcott's] research into the Titanic, its sinking, and the hearings subsequently prompted is impeccable. . . . Fascinating. . . . Historical figures become intricate characters in Alcott's hands." --Seattle Post Intelligencer

"We're all riveted by a tragedy, but what happens to the survivors? The Dressmaker is that rare novel that asks not only what comes next but what we would do in a morally unspeakable situation--and how we live with those choices. A brave, truly gripping novel." --Jenna Blum, author of Those Who Save Us

"Filled with the atmosphere, clothes, and historical figures of the times, including the Astors, the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, and J. Bruce Ismay, the White Star's Managing Director, who cowardly boarded a lifeboat before others." --The Huffington Post

"We learn a good deal about what it was like when the ship went down. But we also follow Tess as she learns about the high-fashion business in New York." --The Washington Post
"A fascinating and thought-provoking book that begs us all to look at the sinking of the Titanic, how we view differences in the classes, and how we each would act in a similar situation. . . . An amazing journey." --Bookreporter

"Brims with engrossing storytelling. . . . For fans of Sarah Jio, Susanna Kearsley, and immigrant tales." --Booklist
"The Dressmaker achieves the remarkable--it makes the sinking of the Titanic feel like a story never told before. By focusing on the search for justice in the aftermath of the tragedy, this compelling first novel examines humanity at its best and worst, as seen through the eyes of one of the ship's survivors, a courageous young woman who is determined to make her own way in America." --Lauren Belfer, author of A Fierce Radiance

Book Description:

Atmospheric, authentic and utterly absorbing - this spirited historical novel will have timeless appeal to lovers of The Postmistress, My Last Duchess and The Kashmir Shawl

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0307970124
• ISBN 13: 9780307970121
• Binding: Audio CD