A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

Dry Drayton Book Group choice November 2022

Set in 1932 it tells the story of Violet Speedwell who is in her 30s and defines herself as one of many “surplus women”. This was a group of women trapped in spinsterhood after the First World War killed so many young men, including Violet’s fiancé and one of her brothers. Keen to find a more fulfilling life and leave her cantankerous mother, Violet saves enough money to move out of her mother’s house in Southampton and set up her own life in nearby Winchester. There Violet finds support and friendship from a group of women who make up the Society of Broderers embroidering kneelers and cushions for the Cathedral. She is also drawn to the team of bell ringers, who initially offer her protection from the unwanted attention of a rogue gentleman and ultimately provide solace and comfort to her.

The story covered the grief felt by a generation who suffered so much loss after the First World War and demonstrated how a shared history can raise different and conflicting perspectives. It also depicted the reliance of women on the approval of male relatives and employers for their success in their work and private lives. The societal standards of behaviour, expectations and consequences when these were challenged were interesting threads in the story.

The group was split, almost equally, in their views of the book. One group felt that the narrative was slow and pedestrian, that Violet was an uncaring character who was shown friendship and kindness but did not reciprocate and the detail afforded the embroidery was excessive. The other group really enjoyed the book and the depiction of a determined and assertive single woman making her way in the world, taking control of her situation, succeeding against the odds and who, through her embroidery, left a small part of herself in the cathedral for future generations to enjoy.

The group did agree that the book was well researched and were interested that the Society of Broderers existed and some of the characters were real. One member of the group visited the cathedral over the summer and took some photographs of the cushions and kneelers which are still in use today.