The best book I read this month was a lovely work of historical fiction. Set during the French Revolution, The Seamstress by Allison Pittman tells the story of a minor character in A Tale of Two Cities—the unnamed seamstress who accompanies Sidney Carton to the gallows.
Pittman gives the seamstress more than just a name. She gives her a rich story filled with memorable characters, not just Marie Antoinette but a whole town in the French countryside, for this tale of the French Revolution is about the countryside more than Paris or the palace. It’s a refreshing take on the revolution—not just a rural perspective, but a woman’s perspective. Two women, actually: the seamstress Renée and Laurette, the sister-like cousin she leaves behind.
I found the pace of the story slow, but then I’m used to mysteries and thrillers that move at a breakneck pace. Harder for me to accept was the way that Gagnon, the surrogate father that Renée leaves behind, and his wards always miraculously escape starvation. Somehow, they always find enough to keep two dogs, a few sheep, and themselves alive, even as the number of souls to be fed increases. I found that disbelief hard to suspend.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story and still recommend it, especially if—like me—you love A Tale of Two Cities.