Jennifer Chiaverini is a New York Times bestselling author celebrated for her acclaimed historical novels and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. Her historical fiction captures fascinating stories, delving into the very texture of women's lives across different social strata and races during perilous times. These novels are noted for their ability to immerse readers in past eras, offering profound insights into the female experience. Chiaverini's distinctive narrative style brings history to life with compelling depth and authentic detail.
The True Story Behind the Quilt 140 Traditional Blocks
Create your own authentic version of the bridal sampler quilt made for Sylvia Compson in the best-selling novel The Master Quilter.
Jennifer Chiaverini of the Elm Creek Quilts series shares a new 100-block sampler quilt pattern inspired by her best-selling novel! Step-by-step instructions to traditionally piece or foundation piece blocks.
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini returns with a Prohibition-era novel about one woman’s journey to save her family—and herself With the nation in the throes of Prohibition, Rosa Diaz Barclay unwittingly discovers that her husband, John, has given over the duties of their Southern California rye farm in favor of armed bootlegging. Fearing the safety of her four beloved children, Rosa flees, with little more than a suitcase filled with John’s ill-gotten gains and her heirloom quilts. Accompanying her is Lars, a good but flawed man who is the mother of two of her children. Under assumed names, Lars and Rosa hire on at a Sonoma County vineyard, seeking not only refuge from danger, but convalescence for two of the children, who suffer from a mysterious wasting disease. The devotion of the Italian-American community to the craft of viticulture inspires Rosa to acquire a vineyard of her own, even as she discovers firsthand its inherent hardships and dangers winemakers face in such turbulent times.
The first three novels in the popular series. The Quilter's apprentice; Round robin; and the cross-country quilters.
In the latest installment of the Elm Creek Quilts series, newcomers to the quilting circle bring unexpected journeys. Quilters gather at Elm Creek Manor to learn from Master Quilter Sylvia Compson and her talented colleagues: Sarah, a former apprentice managing the business; Agnes, an appliqué expert; Gwen, known for her innovative art quilts; Diane, skilled in quick-piecing; and Bonnie, with her extensive knowledge of folk art patterns. As founding members Judy and Summer leave for new opportunities, the remaining teachers wonder if they can fill the gaps left by their expertise and friendship. Incoming teacher Gretchen reflects on the miraculous paths that led her to this supportive community. Sylvia contemplates a tribute to the partnership of the Elm Creek Quilters through a traditional quilt pattern, Winding Ways, symbolizing their intertwined journeys. This mosaic of overlapping circles represents the essence of their friendship during a time of transformation. The narrative explores the complexities of presence and absence, questioning how change affects those who have come to depend on one another. Will the founding members embrace their unique roles in this evolving tapestry, and will the newcomers find their place within it?
History is thick with secrets in The Sugar Camp Quilt, seventh in the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series from bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini. Set in Creek's Crossing, Pennsylvania, in the years leading up to the Civil War, the novel follows Dorothea Granger's passage from innocence to wisdom against the harrowing backdrop of the American struggle over slavery. She discovers that a quilt she has stitched for her uncle Jacob with five unusual patterns of his own design contains hidden clues to guide runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad. The heroic journey she undertakes leads to revelations about her own courage and resourcefulness -- newfound qualities that may win her the heart of the best man she has ever known.
The newest Elm Creek Quilts novel is a tribute to matriarch Sylvia Compson, who surprised her fellow quilters by marrying Andrew, her longtime sweetheart, on a recent holiday.
A Roaring Twenties tale of boom and bust unfolds as young bride Elizabeth Bergstrom Nelson sets off with her husband, Henry, from her family home of Elm Creek Manor in Pennsylvania to start a new life in the unfamiliar terrain of southern California. Expecting to assume ownership of Triumph Ranch, the couple instead learns that their deed is a fake, and that they must work for the rightful proprietors to earn their keep. Resourceful Elizabeth trades her trousseau—including the fine quilts stitched by her Bergstrom relatives—for the practical goods the Nelsons need to survive, and finds friendship with California native Rosa Diaz Barclay. When Elizabeth discovers a mysterious cache of quilts made by a member of the Diaz family that reveals a misplaced legacy of love, land, and ancestral ties, it becomes clear that only by stitching the rift between the past and the future can the inhabitants of Triumph Ranch hope to live in peace alongside history.
Set against the backdrop of World War I, this novel highlights the brave women known as "munitionettes" who worked in Britain's arsenals, building bombs and facing perilous conditions. As they contribute to the war effort, they also form strong bonds of friendship and resilience, finding joy and empowerment through soccer. Blending historical events with themes of camaraderie and courage, the story celebrates the unsung heroines of the era.
Nevertheless, the U.S. Army Signal Corps promptly began recruiting them.More than 7,600 women responded, including Grace Banker of New Jersey, a switchboard instructor with AT&T; and an alumna of Barnard College;
Jennifer Chiaverini’s beloved Elm Creek Quilts series returns with a new installment featuring Summer Sullivan, the youngest founding member of Elm Creek Quilts. After two years pursuing a master’s degree in history at the University of Chicago, Summer unexpectedly returns home, greeted with both joy and concern from her mother, Gwen, best friend Sarah, master quilter Sylvia, and colleagues. Stuck with writer’s block, she struggles to finish her thesis and graduate. Elm Creek Manor offers a much-needed retreat as she faces her extended deadline. To distract herself, Summer organizes an exhibit of antique quilts to raise funds for renovating Union Hall, the 1863 Greek Revival headquarters of the Waterford Historical Society. However, her research reveals troubling aspects of Waterford’s past, raising questions of racism, economic injustice, and political corruption. While quilt lovers and history buffs celebrate her growing collection, local leaders demand the removal of references to the town's troubled history. As controversy mounts, Summer worries that her pursuit of truth may jeopardize the Society’s chance to save Union Hall. She must rally the quilting community to support her cause. This story explores the power of collective memory, as Summer rediscovers her passion for history and envisions a hopeful future.
After Wisconsin graduate student Mildred Fish marries brilliant German economist Arvid Harnack, she accompanies him to his German homeland, where a promising future awaits. In the thriving intellectual culture of 1930s Berlin, the newlyweds create a rich new life filled with love, friendships, and rewarding work--but the rise of a malevolent new political faction inexorably changes their fate. As Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party wield violence and lies to seize power, Mildred, Arvid, and their friends resolve to resist. Mildred gathers intelligence for her American contacts, including Martha Dodd, the vivacious and very modern daughter of the US ambassador. Her German friends, aspiring author Greta Kuckoff and literature student Sara Weiss, risk their lives to collect information from journalists, military officers, and officials within the highest levels of the Nazi regime. For years, Mildred's network stealthily fights to bring down the Third Reich from within. But when Nazi radio operatives detect an errant Russian signal, the Harnack resistance cell is exposed, with fatal consequences
While decorating Elm Creek Manor on Christmas Eve, Sarah McClure discovers an incomplete Christmas quilt and sets out to uncover its history with the help of Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, who reveals why the quilt had never been finished.
The novel continues the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series, weaving together themes of quilting, family, community, and history. Jennifer Chiaverini explores the connections between these elements, celebrating the art of quilting as a means of storytelling and preserving heritage. Readers can expect a heartfelt narrative that highlights the importance of relationships and the shared experiences that bind people together through generations.
In 1875, Elizabeth Todd Edwards is shocked to learn her estranged sister, Mary Todd Lincoln, has tried to take her own life. This event causes Elizabeth to look back on her fraught relationship with her famous sister.
Set during the Civil War, this historical novel follows the remarkable journey of a courageous woman dedicated to caring for Union prisoners while secretly gathering Confederate intelligence. Inspired by a true story, the narrative highlights her resilience and the risks she takes, embodying the spirit of a "true Union woman." Through her actions, the novel explores themes of bravery, sacrifice, and the complexities of loyalty during a tumultuous period in American history.
The only legitimate child of Lord Byron, the most brilliant, revered, and scandalous of the Romantic poets, Ada was destined for fame long before her birth. Estranged from Ada's father, who was infamously “mad, bad, and dangerous to know,” Ada's mathematician mother is determined to save her only child from her perilous Byron heritage. Banishing fairy tales and make-believe from the nursery, Ada's mother provides her daughter with a rigorous education grounded in mathematics and science. Any troubling spark of imagination--or worse yet, passion or poetry--is promptly extinguished. Or so her mother believes. When Ada is introduced into London society as a highly eligible young heiress, she at last discovers the intellectual and social circles she has craved all her life. Little does she realize that her delightful new friendship with inventor Charles Babbage--brilliant, charming, and occasionally curmudgeonly--will shape her destiny
When wintry weather damages the church hall hosting the town Christmas boutique, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson hosts the event at her ancestral family estate, along with the other members of the Elm Creek Quilters club
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini presents an enthralling historical novel centered on the women’s suffrage movement, inspired by three courageous women who risked their lives for the right to vote. Twenty-five-year-old Alice Paul returns to New Jersey after years in Great Britain, determined to revitalize the suffrage movement at home. Although nine states have granted women voting rights, only a constitutional amendment can secure the vote for all. To galvanize support, Alice organizes a grand procession down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, just before the inauguration of President-elect Woodrow Wilson, an outspoken antisuffragist. Joining her is thirty-nine-year-old Maud Malone, a New Yorker and advocate for women’s and workers’ rights, known for her bold interruptions of politicians’ speeches. Civil rights activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett insists that women of color must be included in both the march and the proposed amendment, fearing that white suffragists may prioritize their own interests over those of Black women. On March 3, 1913, the march begins, but negligent police allow hostile crowds to threaten the participants, jeopardizing the demonstration and the women’s safety. Inspired by true events, this novel recounts a pivotal yet often overlooked moment in the struggle for women’s rights.
Exploring the intimate dynamics of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln's marriage, this historical novel is narrated from the perspective of Mary’s closest confidante. It delves into the personal struggles and societal pressures faced by the Lincolns, providing a rich portrayal of their lives beyond the public eye. The story reveals the complexities of their relationship against the backdrop of a tumultuous era, highlighting the emotional depth and resilience of both characters.
Als Sarah McClure en haar man Matt naar het kleine dorpje Waterford verhuizen, is Sarah in eerste instantie behoorlijk eenzaam. Het lukt haar maar niet om een baan te vinden, totdat ze aarzelend het aanbod aanneemt van de rijke weduwe Sylvia Compson. Sarah zal haar helpen het familielandgoed Elm Creek Manor op te knappen voor de verkoop, en als dank voor haar hulp zal de norse oude dame Sarah leren quilten. Al snel vindt Sarah haar draai, zeker als ze gevraagd wordt om lid te worden van de plaatselijke quiltclub. De excentrieke vrouwen die ze zo leert kennen, worden algauw echte vriendinnen. Ook de weduwe ontdooit een beetje en langzaam maar zeker vertelt ze Sarah de geschiedenis van haar landgoed en haar leven. Sylvia's familie is uiteengevallen door tragedies, jaloezie en verraad, en Sarah beseft dat ze, om gelukkig te worden, zelf ook de confrontatie met haar verleden aan moet gaan. Als Sylvia vertelt dat ze eigenlijk dolgraag op het landgoed zou blijven wonen, maar dat het haar te veel herinnert aan het ongelukkige lot dat haar familie is beschoren, doet ze Sarah en Matt een voorstel... De quiltclub is een inspirerende en hartverwarmende roman over familiebanden, vriendschap en vertrouwen. Quilten is zoals het leven: met tijd, liefde en geduld breng je verschillende, ongelijke stukjes bij elkaar tot een harmonieus en prachtig geheel.
Eine wundervolle Weihnachtsüberraschung erwartet die Gäste in diesem Jahr in Elm Creek: Sylvia Compson und Andrew Cooper geben sich das Jawort. Doch liegt ein Schatten über ihrem Glück, denn Andrews Kinder, insbesondere seine Tochter Amy, verweigern ihren Segen. Und so begibt sich das frisch vermählte Paar mit einem ganz besonderen Geschenk auf den Weg zu Amy: ein Quilt, der sie davor bewahren soll, denselben Fehler zu begehen wie Sylvia vor so vielen Jahren.
