The Forgotten Seamstress

By: Liz Trenow

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

A shy girl with no family, Maria knows she's lucky to have landed in the sewing room of the royal household. Before World War I casts its shadow, she catches the eye of the Prince of Wales, a glamorous and intense gentleman. But her life takes a far darker turn, and soon all she has left is a fantastical story about her time at Buckingham Palace.

Decades later, Caroline Meadows discovers a beautiful quilt in her mother's attic. When she can't figure out the meaning of the message embroidered into its lining, she embarks on a quest to reveal its mystery, a puzzle that only seems to grow more important to her own heart. As Caroline pieces together the secret history of the quilt, she comes closer and closer to the truth about Maria.

Pause-resistant and heartbreaking, The Forgotten Seamstress weaves together past and present in an unforgettable journey.

©2014 Liz Trenow (P)2014 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"The two narratives are seamlessly woven together, forming a heartrending tapestry of tragedy and resilience." ( Booklist)

I enjoyed listening to this book

I found the story captivating (and unfortunately, entirely plausible). The writer wove many time periods into the tale without creating a convoluted mess. I also appreciated how the narrator gave distinct personalities to the 3 primary characters.

Enchanting work of art!

This was a beautifully written story spanning several generations, exploring cultural differences and obstacles. It imposed upon me the reality surrounding the affairs of the heart and all of those affected by decisions and actions made by powerful, influential people.

When I started it I found it a little difficult to get into because of the language difference with the strong English accents. After awhile I really enjoyed the variety of voice interpretations for the different characters.

I was immensely intrigued by the storyline relating to the patchwork quilt and totally captivated by the historical research and the steps that were taken to discover truths hidden in the fabric and stitches. I was convinced more than ever of the importance of labeling quilts and other works of art for accurate provenance. I was sad when the story ended.

Life without F

The story itself is awesome! However, I thought at first that my ears were playing tricks, but no, the narrator really does pronounce the letter "f" as a p. Life is Lipe, coffee is coppee, of is op. I almost turned the book off in the middle because of the narrators speech impediment. It was very distracting and very disappointing for a great story.

A wonderful, touching, riveting story.

What did you love best about The Forgotten Seamstress?

This book has everything - romance, mystery, action and was very nicely delivered by the narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

The story takes you along without a hitch - going effortlessly from one character to the other. If you like sewing, fabrics, quilting, etc. this is the book for you. The fabric descriptions are graphic and pleasant - historically interesting.

Which scene was your favorite?

I especially like the scene where she recovers the quilt from the vagrant.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have listened in one sitting if it had been possible - but taking it in several segments worked fine.

Any additional comments?

This is a lovely story which is greatly enhanced by the wonderful reader - I enjoyed it more than I can describe.

Past and present

Two stories, connected by a beautiful antique quilt. The way these separate narratives ultimately come together does depend on an incredible amount of coincidence, but the characters are so sympathetic ( especially Maria, the "forgotten seamstress" of the title) that the story is enjoyable. Good narration.

Enjoyed the book

This was really good. Didn't expect the ending. Enjoyed the narrator. Wanted the story to continue

Well written and very interesting.

Very good narrator...had several surprises for me. A very sad thought of the abilit6of the wealthy to be able to manipulate situations to their benefit.

gentle reminder that it can be a small world​

the narrator brings the story to true belief of a journey of for a real family.

The Forgotten Seamstress

From the moment I began to listen, this book drew me in. As a quilter, the plot of a long lostt secret disguised in plain sight (mostly) in the fabric, patterns and stitching of a humble bedcovering resonated strongly with me.

Compelling story overall

I enjoyed the book. Didn’t love it but really liked it. Narrator was okay. It sounded almost like all the character voices were too similar though. Not sure. I wasn’t thrilled with the exact ending but the main part of story was wrapped up. Overall, I did enjoy the story and the characters.