If you could snap your fingers and become a princess, with all of the duties and obligations and relentless attention that such a position entails, would you do it?
Why do you think Ann made a clean break with her past? Why did she never attempt to contact Miriam? Would you have done the same?
Can you close your eyes and picture Miriam’s Vél d’Hiv embroideries? What do they look like to you?
If you had a chance to stand in Ann’s shoes, would you tell your daughter or granddaughter the truth about your life?
Was Heather right to persevere in uncovering the secrets of Ann’s past?
Do you think it’s possible to accurately depict the life of a public figure who is still alive? And what do you think it must be like to be that public figure, and to know that strangers are reading about or watching the story of your life? Would it upset you, or would you find it entertaining to see what novelists and filmmakers get wrong—and what they get right?
Daniel has lines from a poem by Wilfred Owen tattooed on his arm. What poem or quote would appear in your tattoo （or on a T-shirt if you’d rather not make such a permanent gesture）？
What is your favorite iconic wedding gown—it doesn’t have to have been worn by a royal bride—and why?
Read On
Suggestions for Further Reading
For reasons of space, the following bibliography is by necessity an incomplete record of the sources I consulted when researching The Gown. Not all of the books cited below are still in print, but most should be readily available to anyone with access to a good public library.
Benaim, Laurence, and Florence Müller. Dior: The New Look Revolution Davies, Jennifer. The Wartime Kitchen and Garden
Evans, Paul, and Peter Doyle. The 1940s Home
Garfield, Simon. Our Hidden Lives: The Remarkable Diaries of Post-War Britain Hartnell, Norman. Silver and Gold
Helm, Sarah. If This Is a Woman: Inside Ravensbrück: Hitler’s Concentration Camp for Women Judt, Tony. Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945
Kelly, Angela. Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe
Last, Nella. Nella Last’s Peace: The Post-War Diaries of Housewife, 49
Marrus, Michael, and Robert O. Paxton. Vichy France and the Jews Palmer, Alexandra. Dior
Pick, Michael. Be Dazzled!: Norman Hartnell, Sixty Years of Glamour and Fashion Pile, Jessica Jane. Fashion Embroidery: Embroidery Techniques and Inspiration for Haute-Couture Clothing Rhodes, Margaret. The Final Curtsey: A Royal Memoir by the Queen’s Cousin The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery: A Guide to Essential Stitches, Techniques and Projects Sebba, Anne. Les Parisiennes: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved, and Died Under Nazi Occupation Smith, Sally Bedell. Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch Williams, Kate. Young Elizabeth: The Making of the Queen
Links to online sources related to the royal wedding, among them British Pathé newsreel footage, documentaries, audio recordings of BBC radio coverage, and websites associated with the Royal Collection and Hand & Lock, may be found at my website: www.jennifer-robson.com
Praise for The Gown
“Jennifer Robson embroiders life, friendship, and hope into the somber gray world of postwar London every bit as skillfully as her seamstress heroines embroider crystal flowers into the folds of a royal wedding dress. The Gown is marvelous and moving, a vivid portrait of female self-reliance in a world racked by the cost of war.”
—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
“In The Gown, Jennifer Robson illuminates with her signature meticulous historical detail and sure voice the story behind Queen Elizabeth’s wedding dress. . . . An unforgettable story of friendship, hardship, and hope. Robson has managed to craft a story that is personal and universal, timely and timeless. The Gown soars!”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale
“A moving story about the power of female friendship and renewal in the face of adversity. Like the good-luck sprig of heather hidden amid the embroidery on Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress, this story promises secrets and lives that bloom in unlikely ways. Perfect for fans of The Crown!”
—Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of The English Wife
“Once again, with an impressive depth of research, Jennifer Robson provides an enchanting glimpse into the past, each word and detail a carefully placed stitch. Told through the eyes of three compelling women, The Gown is a heartwarming story of friendship, resilience, and the power of heirlooms to connect people through generations, sometimes in the most unexpected ways.”