Blog Tour - A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

Today I am pleased to be taking part in Harper Fiction's Blog Tour to celebrate Tracy Chevalier's release, A Single Thread,

1932. After the Great War took both her beloved brother and her fiancé, Violet Speedwell has become a "surplus woman," one of a generation doomed to a life of spinsterhood after the war killed so many young men. Yet Violet cannot reconcile herself to a life spent caring for her grieving, embittered mother. After countless meals of boiled eggs and dry toast, she saves enough to move out of her mother's place and into the town of Winchester, home to one of England's grandest cathedrals. There, Violet is drawn into a society of broderers--women who embroider kneelers for the Cathedral, carrying on a centuries-long tradition of bringing comfort to worshippers.

Violet finds support and community in the group, fulfillment in the work they create, and even a growing friendship with the vivacious Gilda. But when forces threaten her new independence and another war appears on the horizon, Violet must fight to put down roots in a place where women aren't expected to grow. Told in Chevalier's glorious prose, A Single Thread is a timeless story of friendship, love, and a woman crafting her own life.

'A Single Thread' is Tracy Chevalier's latest release. When I pick up a Tracy Chevalier novel I know that I will be transported to a time gone by and indulged with a fantastic story and this one transports the reader back to 1932, following the Great War, to Winchester.

I really enjoyed ' A Single Thread'. Along with the fantastic storylines, I really enjoyed learning more about the Broderers, a group of women who embroider the kneelers for the Cathedral. I am a keen cross stitcher myself and I think this made me identify with the women, and all the hard work they would do to make these kneelers as beautiful and intricate as possible.  Their work enabled them to meet with others who have been through their own problems and highs and lows throughout the Great War and are now adjusting back to life.

I really enjoyed reading Violet's story, a young woman growing up through war and wanting to gain her own independence, working through times of poverty. 

A Single Thread is one of those great books which enables women today to remember those of the past who have fought to enable to us to live the lives we live today - working and living as we wish.

Thank you to Harper Fiction for inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.