Rosa Kusstatscher has built a global fashion empire upon her ability to find the perfect outfit for any occasion. But tonight, as she prepares for the most important meeting of her life, her usual certainty eludes her.
What brought her to this moment? As she struggles to select her dress and choose the right shade of lipstick, Rosa begins to tell her incredible story. The story of a poor country girl from a village high in the mountains of Italy. Of Nazi occupation and fleeing in the night. Of hope and heartbreak in Switzerland; glamour and love in Paris. Of ambition and devastation in Rio de Janeiro; success and self-discovery in New York.
A life spent running, she sees now. But she will run no longer.
The Dressmaker of Paris by Georgia Kaufmann was published on 4 February 2021 by Hodder. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.
This review was originally published in S Magazine
Rosa Kusstatscher is elegant, wealthy and famous for her ability to find the perfect outfit. From the outside, she appears confident, dazzling and always immaculate. However, Rosa’s exterior shell hides a lifetime of hidden secrets and pain.
Rosa prepares for the most important and most difficult meeting of her life. As she prepares her make up and clothes, she recounts her life story to an unknown companion who she refers to as ‘ma chere’.
Rosa grew up in a mountain village in South Tyrol, Italy. Her father was a drunk and her mother had no time for her daughter. When war broke out and their village was invaded by the Nazis, Rosa suffered an appalling act at the hands of one soldier.
Scared and alone, she sought refuge with a Jewish professor who showed her nothing but love and kindness. However, Rosa was determined to create a better life for herself and making the ultimate sacrifice, she fled once again.
Her natural flair for design brought her to the attention of Christian Dior, and within months, Rosa was his muse. This was just the beginning of a wonderful career that would span the world. She spent time in Brazil and New York, before returning home.
This is a beautifully written novel that sweeps the reader across the globe, and through the decades. Rosa is a flawed but fascinating creation, who becomes her own worst enemy. It’s a story of loss, and running away, and one of redemption and forgiveness. Readers of Lucinda Riley will adore this.
She currently lives within cycling distance of central London with her husband, two daughters and a cat.
The Dressmaker of Paris is her debut novel.
Twitter @GeorgiaKaufmann
Instagram @georgiakaufmann
Author page on Facebook
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