A Single Thread
A tale of resilience and self-discovery in a changing world.
Format:Paperback
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers
Published:15th Oct '20
Should be back in stock very soon
Set in the aftermath of the First World War, A Single Thread follows Violet's journey of resilience and self-discovery amidst societal constraints.
In A Single Thread, the story unfolds in the aftermath of the First World War, focusing on Violet, a 38-year-old woman grappling with the loss of her loved ones. With her brother and fiancé gone, Violet finds herself labeled a 'surplus woman,' a term that reflects the societal pressures and expectations of the time. Yet, she is not one to succumb to despair. Instead, she embodies resilience and independence, seeking to carve out a new existence for herself away from her overbearing mother.
Violet's journey takes her to Winchester, where she hopes to start anew. This transition is fraught with challenges, requiring her to summon courage and engage in acts of quiet rebellion against the norms that seek to confine her. As she navigates her new life, the specter of another world war looms on the horizon, and Violet must grapple with a secret that has the potential to alter her life drastically. The narrative is rich with detail, capturing the emotional landscape of a woman determined to reclaim her identity in a world that has changed irrevocably.
With its beautifully crafted prose and poignant themes, A Single Thread explores the complexities of grief, independence, and the search for belonging. The novel is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, inviting readers to reflect on the sacrifices made in the name of love and the courage it takes to forge one's own path.
‘Bittersweet … dazzling’ Guardian
‘Tracy Chevalier shows once again her ability to illuminate ordinary lives and to pay attention to those most often ignored … movingly examines hidden depths beneath quiet exteriors’ Sunday Times
‘Writing with quiet but devastating empathy, Tracy Chevalier pinpoints Violet’s predicament as a single woman, her unexpected emotional crisis and her struggle to give her life depth and meaning. I loved it’ Daily Mail
‘A well-woven story of love … Chevalier has such a sure eye for details, whether she is describing the loveliness of the cathedral or the dismal interior of a 1930s boarding house. Reading this is deeply pleasurable’ The Times
‘I enjoyed A Single Thread enormously. Tracy Chevalier wonderfully evokes the social climate of the nineteen thirties – this is the intriguing story of a young woman facing the conventions and prejudices of the day, told with a wealth of detail and narrative intensity’ Penelope Lively
’Tracy Chevalier’s quietly moving story of a woman finding freedom in the 1930s is a gem’ Stylist
‘Evocative and beautifully written’ Sunday Express Magazine
‘I loved it. So compelling and warm and subtle, and very moving’ Bridget Collins, author of The Binding
‘Evocative, beautifully written’ Daily Mirror
‘Beautifully written … utterly immersive’ Red
‘Atmospheric … wonderful’ Good Housekeeping
‘I loved it! Enchanting and full of hope. Absolutely needed in this political climate’ Laura Purcell, author of The Silent Companions
‘A fierce and moving book about the great courage of a small life’ Sadie Jones
‘It’s a chance encounter that sets Violet on an unexpectedly rewarding path in this pleasant, leisurely paced novel’ i Paper
‘Absorbing, empathetic, poignant’ Daily Mail
ISBN: 9780008153847
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 26mm
Weight: 300g
400 pages