The Seamstress by Allison Pittman ~ Review

My Review:

Cousins Laurette and Renee are orphaned and taken in by the kindly Gagnon. Renee is a talented seamstress, and her craft takes her within the palace walls working for Queen Marie Antoinette. Laurette longs for adventure and love, following her desires.

Inspired by The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, this story tells of two cousins on different sides of the revolution. Renee is content with her simple, yet when she receives the opportunity to make the dreams she never dared to dream a reality she takes it. I admired her faithfulness, and level-headedness, she is plucky and strong beyond her diminutive size.

This book does a fantastic job of drawing the vast contrasts between the upper class excess of the royal family and the desperate poverty of those with a common plight. Marcel and Gagnon could not be more opposite in their philosophies. I loved Gagnon's commitment to his faith, often standing alone against the tide.

This is a riveting book that captures both sides of the revolution, showing the desperate and unsatisfied side of the wealthy in their humanity, while showing the need for change and reform in the wave of the future. Good and bad are present on boths sides of the battlelines, and in many ways I couldn't help but think of the present day and the way that many on both sides are impassioned by their political fervor. It wasn't always easy to root for Laurette, but her story arch is beautiful nonetheless. Marcel was the kind of guy that I loved to hate, yet still felt sorry for. An engagingly spun story set against the French Revolution, that I couldn't put down. Ms. Pittman is an expert of storytelling evoking stark imagery in my head that set the tone and emotion of the story.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.