My own relationship with sewing and embroidery is chequered to say the least. I mention this charity not only because I'm always eager to draw it to people's attention but also because it's relevant to Chevalier's new book which demonstrates most beautifully the power of stitching to mend and heal. I have a small lavender pillow embroidered with a poppy which I bought in the exhibition and it sits on my bed all the time. It's part of the process of rehabilitation for sometimes very violent and troubled men. I've also read her book The Sleep Quilt which is all about the fascinating exhibition of prisoners' work which she curated together with the charity Fine Cell Work.įine Cell Work teaches prisoners to sew and embroider. The Last Runaway is about patchwork and quilting, which is another of Chevalier's interests. The Lady and the Unicorn is about the miraculous tapestries of the same name now to be seen in the Musée de Cluny in Paris. She's written many novels but the ones I like best seem to be, when I list them in my head, the ones where needlework of some kind plays an important part. I've been a fan of Tracy Chevalier's work since her wonderful novel, Girl with a Pearl Earring, swept all before it twenty years ago. A historical novel for adults will be published by Michael Joseph in June 2020 under a pseudonym yet to be publicly revealed. Adele Geras has written many books for children and young adults and six novels for adults, the latest of which is Love or Nearest Offer, published by Quercus in paperback.
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