A Single Thread, by Tracy Chevalier, is set in 1932 and features Violet Speedwell, who, like most people, is still feeling the effects of the incredible losses from the First World War in which she lost both her brother and her fiancee. She moves to Winchester to escape her bitter mother, with the intention of finding some kind of life for herself. But it's tougher than she thought, as her work as a typist doesn't pay much, and most of her earnings go on the room she rents in her boarding house. She is often hungry and cold. At her age, being a single woman, is frowned upon by society ... yet shouldn't be, as so many men were lost in the war. Almost by accident, she finds and joins a group of broderer who are embroidering new kneelers for the Cathedral. Here she finds friendship and purpose and is introduced to another groups supporting the Cathedral - the bellringers - and is drawn to one in particular, Arthur, who is 20 years her senior and whose wife has never recovered from the loss of their son, also during the war. The gentle action follows this "will they, won't they" relationship, against the backdrop of the local petty politics of the Cathedral volunteers, and the looming threat of the Nazi Party in Germany. The character of Violet could have become a bit insipid, but Chevalier instills her with a quiet determination that builds throughout the novel and slowly, but surely, she gets what she wants. Full of detail about embroidery, Winchester Cathedral and bell ringing, this feels like it was a labour of love for the author. Many of the characters are recognisable and fully formed, though not perhaps all. However, this doesn't detract from the story and I enjoyed it, though I wasn't always convinced by the actions of the two main characters. I could definitely recommend this for a holiday read for those who like a mix of romance and history.
My STAR rating: FOUR.
Length: 352 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my sister.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.
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