Drawing inspiration from a family heritage in silk weaving spanning nearly three centuries, Liz Trenow imbues her novels with a profound sense of authenticity and depth. Her work delves into the past, setting stories against historical backdrops where themes of racial tension and industrial unrest intertwine. Trenow's writing reflects a deep appreciation for the craft and the enduring legacies of previous generations, offering readers a unique window into historical textile traditions.
The story explores Lizzie's determination and bravery as she contemplates the dangers faced by her brother in wartime. Imagining herself in his position, she feels fear but resolves to take action for his protection. Donning her brother's coat symbolizes her commitment to stepping into his role and confronting the challenges ahead, highlighting themes of courage, sacrifice, and familial bonds in the face of adversity.
A heartbreaking and gripping novel about loyalty, love and lies, set just after the Second World War.
"I'm getting desperate not hearing from you. Your letters are a lifeline and there's is something I need to tell you. Please write, please, please. 1937, England. Kathleen Motts, with her flame-red curls and gift for geometry, grew up just across the water from the secretive RAF base, Bawdsey Manor, on the bleak and beautiful east coast. When the stars overhead turn red as warplanes surge toward her home, Kath is desperate to do her bit, enlisting as one of the first female radar operators, helping to keep the brave pilots safe in troubled skies. Vikram Mackensie is quiet, exceptional at maths and music, and always the outsider. When he's recruited for a top-secret war project at Bawdsey Manor, Vic's chance to belong has arrived at last. He may only be half-British, but he vows to help the country he loves. From their first meeting on windy cliffs above a rocky beach, Kath arrives like a blaze of warmth into Vic's grey life and turns the colour back on. As the war intensifies, so do Kath and Vic's feelings for each other. They may have grown up on different sides of the world -- but if the war can't keep them apart, nothing will. But fate intervenes when Vic is posted to America, and Kath is left heartbroken and alone. As the silence between them grows, so does the secret that Kath is holding ... as the sky falls around Kath, will she ever have more than one last letter? A heartbreaking and gripping novel, Our Last Letter shows that even in humanity's darkest moments, light and love will find a way."-- Back cover
Under a Wartime Sky is an enthralling historical novel by Liz Trenow, based on real-life events at a top-secret wartime research station. Telling the story of the heroes behind the discovery of radar, it's perfect for readers of Kate Furnivall and Rachel Hore. Bawdsey Manor holds a secret. 1936: the threat of war hangs over Europe. Churchill gathers the brightest minds in Britain at a grand house in Suffolk. Bound to complete secrecy, they work together on an invention that could mean victory for the Allies. Among them is Vic, a gifted but shy physicist who, for the first time, feels like he belongs. Local girl Kathleen wants to do more than serving tea and biscuits to 'do her bit'. So when the Bawdsey team begin to recruit women to operate their top secret system, she dedicates herself to this life-or-death work. Kath and Vic form an unlikely friendship as the skies over Britain fill with German bombers. Little does Kath know just whose life she will change forever, one fateful night . . . Based on the real history of Bawdsey Manor, Under a Wartime Sky is a novel about courage, belonging and hope. Praise for Liz Trenow: 'The characters shine . . . Fabulous' - Dinah Jefferies 'It was a wrench to put the book down after the last beautifully written page' - Gill Paul 'Trenow's exquisite novel puts a real focus on the characters' journeys' - Woman
As victory bells sound across London, Rose Barker welcomes her darling husband Alfie home. But, injured by a shell in the final days of the war, Alfie struggles with terrifying nightmares, and though Rose desperately tries to comfort him, nothing she does seems to help.
An evocative historical novel set against the rich tapestry of the silk trade in London during the 1760s.
"In the summer of 1919, British Ruby is mourning her beloved husband Bertie, missing since 1916. His grief-stricken parents ask one last task of her: travel to the Belgian battlefields to find Bertie's grave, and with it the peace that will come with knowing his final resting place. Alice, an American, knows in her heart that her brother Sam is alive - but after he signed up under a false name, no news has been heard from him since he arrived in Belgium. Leaving her life and her fiancé behind in Washington, Alice sets sail for Europe, promising herself that she will not rest until she finds her brother. Martha has risked everything to travel to Belgium. A German, she knows she will be met with neither sympathy nor understanding. But her son lies somewhere in Belgian soil, and her husband's dying wish was for his grandfather's bravery medal to be passed down to his son. It is a promise Martha will do anything to keep. When the lives of these three women collide, they begin to question whether that which unites them could be greater than their differences. As an unlikely friendship blossoms, their story reveals their untiring determination to find out what happened to the men they love, no matter how painful the truth." --Amazon
An emotional and enthralling historical novel following a group of women searching for the men they lost during the First World War.
The Hidden Thread is a breathtaking novel about the intricate craft of silk and the heartbreak of forbidden love. When Anna Butterfield's mother dies, she's sent to live with her uncle, a silk merchant in London, to make a good match and provide for her father and sister. There, she meets Henri, a French immigrant and apprentice hoping to become a master weaver. But Henri, born into a lower class, becomes embroiled in the silk riots that break out as weavers protest for a fair wage. New York Times bestselling author Liz Trenow weaves a luminous tale of class struggle and star-crossed love. Originally published in the UK as THE SILK WEAVER
A stunning book set in the Edwardian era about a seamstress working at Buckingham Palace. Full of drama, betrayal and compelling historical detail - The Forgotten Seamstress by Liz Trenow is perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Joanne Harris.