The Winter Dress

- Blurb -

' From a few shimmering strands of truth, Lauren Chater has spun an intriguing story of love, loss and fulfilment. ' Pip Williams, bestselling author of The Dictionary of Lost Words Two women separated by centuries but connected by one beautiful silk dress. A captivating novel based on a real-life shipwreck discovered off Texel Island by the bestselling author of Gulliver' s Wife, Lauren Chater. Jo Baaker, a textiles historian and Dutch ex-pat is drawn back to the island where she was born to investigate the provenance of a 17th century silk dress. Retrieved by local divers from a sunken shipwreck, the dress offers tantalising clues about the way people lived and died during Holland' s famous Golden Age. Jo' s research leads her to Anna Tesseltje, a poor Amsterdam laundress turned ladies' companion who served the enigmatic artist Catharina van Shurman. The two women were said to share a powerful bond, so why did Anna abandon Catharina at the height of her misfortune? Jo is convinced the truth lies hidden between the folds of this extraordinary dress. But as she delves deeper into Anna' s history, troubling details about her own past begin to emerge. On the small Dutch island of Texel where fortunes are lost and secrets lie buried for centuries, Jo will finally discover the truth about herself and the woman who wore the Winter Dress. Praise for Lauren Chater ' A heartfelt tale of female solidarity. ' Daily Telegraph ' An absolutely gripping read, with a powerful and ultimately hopeful story to tell. ' Booktopia ' A meticulously researched novel . . . Full of hope, heartache and the power of keeping traditions alive. ' Books+Publishing ' From the very first line, I was captivated . . . There is beauty to be found everywhere. ' Natasha Lester ' An imaginative tour-de-force!' Kate Forsyth ' Bold, evocative and brave . . . I am in awe of Lauren Chater' s talent. ' Tess Woods ' Exquisite, empathetic and engrossing storytelling from an extraordinarily gifted writer. ' Wendy J. Dunn