A Single Thread, Tracy Chevalier

 

Set in 1932 Winchester, A Single Thread follows Violet Speedwell, one of the so‑called “surplus women” left unmarriageable in the wake of the Great War. Seeking solace beyond her mother’s oppressive home, she discovers purpose and kinship among the Winchester Cathedral broderers—an embroidery circle reviving ancient kneeler‑making traditions. Tracy Chevalier weaves grief, love, and craft into a moving tapestry: Violet’s meticulous stitching echoes her emotional mending, while the looming spectre of another world war threads through the narrative.

Quiet yet richly textured, the novel blends historical detail—bell‑ringing rituals, medieval embroidery techniques—with intimate scenes of female solidarity and unexpected romance. Chevalier captures the rhythm of communal stitching as a metaphor for rebuilding life: each thread linking past to future, ritual to resilience, and solitude to shared purpose.

About the Author
Tracy Chevalier (b. 1962, Washington DC) is an American‑British novelist celebrated for historical fiction infused with artistic nuance—best known for Girl with a Pearl Earring (adapted into the acclaimed 2003 film) . A BA graduate of Oberlin and MA in Creative Writing from UEA, she transitioned from publishing into fiction and now lives in London, balancing family life with her literary career.

Publication date: 2019
Publisher: Viking / Amulet UK
Pages: 335
ISBN: 9780008153816