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A Single Thread

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A Single Thread

By: Tracy Chevalier
Narrated by: Fenella Woolgar
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About this listen

FROM THE GLOBALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING

Violet is 38.

The First World War took everything from her. Her brother, her fiancé – and her future. She is now considered a ‘surplus woman’.

But Violet is also fiercely independent and determined. Escaping her suffocating mother, she moves to Winchester to start a new life –a change that will require courage, resilience and acts of quiet rebellion. And when whispers of another world war surface, she must live with a secret that could change everything…

©2019 Tracy Chevalier (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited 20th Century Fiction Historical Fiction World War I Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Inspiring

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Critic reviews

"Bittersweet...dazzling." (Guardian)

"Deeply pleasurable...the ending made me cry." (The Times)

"Told with a wealth of detail and narrative intensity." (Penelope Lively)
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I loved this story set in the beautiful city of Winchester and surrounding area. It's a story of loss and love, about Violet and her quest for independence and her gentle rebellion against the strict constraints placed on women in 1930's society. I really enjoyed the details about cathedral embroidery and the history of the building, and it has made me want to visit again. A heartwarming read and a performance that makes you want to listen.

A very enjoyable listen

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My first ever audio book - the book was chosen by my book club and I had to get through it quickly. I really recommend the listening experience and the story (the outline of which I hadn’t been sure about initially).
Many interesting themes and modern parallels/changes in societal attitudes to discuss. Definitely worth a read.

A great listen

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loved it very enjoyable loved the characters and their relationships and the historical back drop.

another wonderful book by Chevalier

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This is a gentle book - beautifully narrated by Fenella Woolgar.
It highlights the plight of women after WW1 - a subject largely ignored by authors. A charming read.

A charming story, beautifully read.

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Loved the narration - the language and the attitudes of the time came across perfectly
Glimpse into the world women lived in between wars and how they were judged

Sedate and simple

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I have been glued to the fabulous reading by Fenella Wolgar , of this wonderful story. Researched with such detail , so interesting . Characters are depicted with such empathy and the central character grows in confidence as the story. This is a gem of a book . Thank you !

A beautiful story

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I loved this book from start to finish, based on fact and with a fascinating (and disturbing)insight into how single women were treated in the 1930’s

A single thread

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Absolutely loved it. Didn’t want it to end. Beautiful story and story telling. Highly recommended

Loved every word.

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Really enjoyed the narrators telling of the story, has a lovely calming voice.
Having been a history student at Winchester University and lived there for three years was lovely to be taken back and hear familiar street names and places around city.
Am a fan of Tracy Chevalier but have to say not my favourite story of hers, didnt think in the 1930s many people would be accepting of a gay couple or a child born out of wedlock especially if involved in the church this is from what I learnt researching my own family history. Though I'm probably wrong. The ending just felt a bit unrealistically perfect which was nice for characters but didnt seem very real.

A Single Thread

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I was slowly drawn into this story of a single woman after losing both her brother and her fiancé during WW1. Thirteen years later, the effects of the war on the lives of this woman and others she meets after moving away from her childhood home are gradually revealed. The story unfolds and the characters take shape with poignancy. I loved it.
The writing is excellent and an in-depth knowledge of specialist interests such as embroidery and bell ringing are interwoven with the tussles of family, relationships and responsibilities against the background of economic hardship, the private griefs of shattered families and life plans.
The strength of single women to gain confidence in forging a future without the previously accepted trajectory of marriage and children is gently explored. Although women have gained the vote it is early days yet and entrenched attitudes remain to be resisted.
The narration is perfect and I look to hearing more from Fenella Woolgar and other Tracey Chevalier books.

evocative, engrossing social commentary on the 30s

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