I have been on a WWII “kick” lately and this book fed my needs wonderfully. In this story we follow Harriet, a young university grad making her way in the world of Paris fashion.
She’s drawn here, among other reasons, by a longing to know her family story and learn more about her grandmother, Claire, and her friends in WWII Paris. The novel flashes between modern day Harriet, and early 1940’s Claire and her friends, Mireille and Vivi.
The women fight for survival as couture seamstresses- and maybe more- during a time of fear and uncertainty.
Harriet learns more than she could have imagined about her past and thusly, herself. Along the way she creates a space and a life of her own in Paris, too. Woven throughout the novel are fantastic descriptions and references to the immaculate creations of art/clothing left through time.
The story is of perseverance, sisterly love, duty, honor and life. I recommend it for anyone interested in period novels, strong women or the psychology of inherited trauma. This book was absolutely gorgeous, as I know the women’s work was too.