Holy cow did I forget to review this

I highly recommend this to any one that love historical fiction this story goes back to 1760.
The details in the story shows the author did alot of research.
I will be checking out more books by Liz.

Sorry, this just wasn't for me. I was intrigued by the historical setting, and the setting was really interesting and well-done,but I kept putting it down because I didn't connect with any of the characters.

the idea sounded brilliant, sadly i personally thought the writing and actual book lacked a little behind the fantastic idea.
It was still a nicely done historical fiction and pretty well written book overall.

The Hidden Thread was an emotional rollercoaster filled with lots of controversy...racism, religion and wage riots.

I loved the cover of this book. The story was even more captivating. This might be my new favorite author.

I love a good story.
Stories where there's some tragedy, some intrigue, lots of tension...






And this novel by Trenow is just that. The heroine, Anna, is introduced into London society in an overwhelming way. Having lost her mother recently, she's not sure how she should feel about life in general, and to say her Uncle's house and family is unfamiliar is an understatement. She doesn't understand London fashion, and she doesn't understand London societal rules...


And what is a good love story without breaking few of society's rules? Because a chance encounter with Henri, a French immigrant, forces Anna to look within herself and determine where she fits.


I enjoyed the description of the silk industry, as it was something I was not familiar with. The characters in this book are pleasant and I really like Anna. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance with tension. I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and am providing an honest review, which will be posted on their website.

That was a very very solid and enjoyable read! The Hidden Thread is definitely a very slow paced book. Our character is mostly lacking the ability to go out into the world and play an active role exploring it, and Henri, the other POV is very dedicated to his work which provides for very few action moments. The final third of the book was the most interesting to me.

I did not feel very invested in the romance because it was so lightly introduced that I just couldn't get on board with the depth of feeling that came with it. But overall it was an enjoyable read and I definitely found out a lot about weaving!

I found the approach of the book to be compelling and comprehensive: the narrative scope of the book transcends the romantic angle of a star-crossed love between two characters (Anna and Henri) born into different classes and divided by several degrees of financial resources and social power. With a lovely narrative blend of facts and fiction, Trenow ushers the readers into a broader context of class and gender prejudice loosely based on the historical setting of the 1760s Spitalfields silk riots and inspired to the real life of silk designer Anna Maria Garthwaite. Resounding with echoes of the “social novel” made popular by Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles Dickens, and Victor Hugo, to name a few, Trenow’s dramatization of real characters and events is rooted in history, but like on the warp threads of Henri Vendôme’s loom, the author interweaves her own threads of colorful silk and adds the whimsical touch of her imaginative speculation.

A wonderful look into life in the poor parts of England. Story of love, class differences. Great lesson in the lives of silk weavers poor laboring people who made beautiful silks for the rich and got no benefit from them.

It made me look up information and learn more. Always a GREAT sign of good historical fiction. Good character development. Great flow.
I wish the love story would have been a secondary and focused more on the characters. Still a book I would recommend.

This book is described as breathtaking in its blurb and I cannot think of a better word. Breathtaking indeed! So needless to say I loved it. I loved that it was about silk, threads and weaving. I loved the richness of London in the 1700's and the little quotes from 'manual's' and other books that were the 1700 equivalent to today's self-help books.

Not unlike Pride and Prejudice this book is about a woman whom is not happy being a part of the 'typical' high society she could be immersed in. Instead our lead gal, Anna, is a bit of a romantic; a painter/artist that is looking for real love, not just a good match to a wealthy man. The love story here is poignant, honest and unbelievably adorable. I'm not a crier but I will admit to at a few moments being choked up by the sweetness of it all.

There is one thing that The Hidden Thread is not, it's not an action book, not a thriller, has no magic or intrigue in it, and isn't about anything more complex than two people and their stories that collide. Going in with clear expectations that you will learn a lot about weaving and silk; and knowing that it's well researched and written will go a long ways to your enjoyment.

Even though the writing is not overly flowery, nor is the story anything particularly original, I still adored this book. It was breathtaking in that Liz Trenow clearly knows how to tell a story with depth that evicts emotions for average people in believable and realistic situations. It's in the vein of Gone with the Wind, Pride & Prejudice or more recently The Minaturist or The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. Just a story about people and the time they lived (and loved) in.

The Hidden Thread is historical fiction at it's finest and I can't imagine changing anything in it that would improve it. Finding out the authors connection to the people and time period at the end of the novel just re-enforced for me how much time and effort clearly went into researching the time period and silk industry. And how can you possibly fault an author who admits to their fictional liberties taken!! It's a rare treat that I can walk away from a historical novel and not feel the need to wiki the real details. I look forward to much more of Trenow's literature in the future.

This was an historical fiction that takes place in 1860. It grabbed me right from the beginning and took me on a roller coaster of emotions as I was reading. It is based on a couple of actual events. The main character, Anna Butterfield, was inspired by Anna Maria Garthwaite who was an English textile designer known for and celebrated for the intricate floral designs she created. The other event in the book is the "silk riots" that took place to fight for an honest wage for the weavers, most of whom were French immigrants. These events did not take place at the same time in history, but they were woven together in a great plot.

Anna Butterfield is a vicar's daughter from a small town on the coast of England. When her mother dies, her father sends her to live with his sister and her family to be introduced to society. The hope is that she will meet a wealthy man so he can support Anna, her sister and father when he is no longer able to work. When she arrives in Spitalfields, she faints and is rescued by a young frenchman named Henri. Little does she know that this chance encounter will change her life. Her aunt is determined to assist her in making a "good match" and lets her know in no uncertain terms that she is above the french immigrants. It turns out that Henri is a journeyman weaver who is looking to design his masterpiece to be entered into the Company as a Master Weaver. Anna and Henri bump into each other a few times until they realize that they have true feelings for one another. Anna, who is an artist of nature, designs a floral pattern that Henri wants to use for his masterpiece. Of course this courtship/friendship is deemed unacceptable for Anna. Her family are torn apart when they find out. Anna's aunt has a man in mind for her and he actually proposes, but Anna does not love him. Meanwhile, the weavers are trying to stop the merchants from importing illegal french silk and paying below the accepted rate for their product. This is where the riots come in. One of Henri's good friends gets caught up in the events and Henri tries to help him and ends up in trouble.

Can Henri and Anna fight back against society? Can they fight back against what is expected of them? Is there anyway that they can be together? Will the weavers get the government to back their demands so they can make an honest living? This book covered so many topics from the period. Racism, romance, wage riots, classism, persecution - religiously, gender, race, status and much more. I was so glad there was a good epilogue so I was not left wondering about these characters when the story ended. If you like historical fiction, pick this book up, it will not disappoint.

*** Review & Book Tour ***

The Hidden Thread by Liz Trenow takes place in the world of the silk trade in England. What I find fascinating about the book is the description of the silks and work that goes into designing and weaving each one. What I love about the writing is how seamlessly the history and the fiction story is blended together. The characters and fiction provide the human anchor and emotions for the history, and the history adds the drama to the fiction.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/05/the-hidden-thread.html

Reviewed for NetGalley

My honest and unbiased review:

This is a beautifully written love story, that has been well researched. The reader is drawn into the characters and the story line. My first for this author but would definitely look at her other books.

I would recommend reading this book.

I loved this book, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it.

I have French silk weavers in my family history, I weave and spin and love textiles. How could I not want to read this!

A story of class and love, religious persecution, craft, fashion, history and so much more.

Anna Trenow's family have been in the silk weaving industry for 300 hundred years. This shows in the details and history in the book. Set in the 1760's a period when French Huguenot's were fleeing to England for their Protestant beliefs. This is an interesting time for fashion, shapes were changing, fabrics became less baroque and more stylistic.


Anna goes to live with her aunt and uncle in London. He is a a silk merchant and her aunt is expected to find a good match in order to provide for Anna, her vicar father and sister. Her mother has recently died. She loves nature and drawing and is used to a quiet village life not London.

She meets Henri on arrival in London, he is a French immigrant, apprentice weaver looking forward to becoming a master weaver and providing for his mother. That will not really change his class but make him financially comfortable. Until then he has to respect and obey his master in all ways.

The French Church nearby offers support and help to the French immigrants, whereas English society people go to Church in order to show off their wealth and clothing. Your women are not allowed to go out without a companion, this way of life is so restricting and unknown for Anna.


Their lives become entwined both in design, art and weaving, and most of all love.

I really enjoyed the detail, descriptions of London, references to real places, street names etc. The evolving fashions were so interesting and you are in the time while reading the book I found. Quite captivating.However at this time silk weavers were fighting for a fair wage and there are riots which young Henri is involved in. He is a good man living during difficult times. Will love conquer all?

Honestly, " The Hidden Thread" was a very sweet story, but it failed to resonant with me . The writing is solid, the characterization is well-written, the author's family history was interesting, but I just didn't "feel" totally immersed in the story.

George III (the one who lost the colony of America) is on the throne and luxury for the rich and well-to-do is always in demand. While some manufacturers of luxury goods are still in operation, most significantly, those who weave and sell silk are in the early years of labor uprisings: domestically woven silk is still in production, but the cost savings in importing and reselling French made silks is a boon to the bottom line, so jobs are few and wages are poor. These sorts of labor issues are slowly gaining footholds, with riots that turn violent and a resurgence of the us v them mentality that is so integrally ingrained with the social class system in Britain at the time. Into this mix of conflict and increased adherence to societal norms enters Anna, niece of the Sadlers, on her first journey to London to make an advantageous match. The Sadler business is silk: and they have built a successful business, and are willing to sponsor Anna on her search for a husband.

But all does not move smoothly: Anna arrived at Spital Square, expecting to meet her cousin William. But, no one is there to greet her, and overcome with heat, nerves and lack of food, she faints: regaining consciousness with a young Frenchman, Henri, who is kindly caring for her until her cousin arrives to berate Anna and cuff Henri for his ‘liberties”. Of course, the contrast between the two men couldn’t be more clear, and Anna is interested in the young man who showed her such kindness. While there is Anna’s budding romance with a very unsuitable man, due to his working class status, she is also overwhelmed and bored with the restrictions of her place and position in her new home. While she and her cousin Lizzie get on well, Anna’s sketches and paintings are suffering as she isn’t free to roam the fields or gardens drawing inspiration.

Throughout the story, Trenow brings in factual and historical elements: we learn about the silk weaving and trade, the labor difficulties, and plenty about the societal expectations that so burdened Anna in her new London home. Descriptions are lush and deceptive: adding depth and visual imagery that is easy to access, highlighting the materials, decorative elements and lines of dresses, stitching and embellishment. From the different silks, to the weave that affects sheen and feel, the processes are explained with clarity. A clear reference to the title comes with Henri’s masterpiece weave, the one he hopes will elevate his work to Master level, through to the simple beginnings of the thread through to the final sales and creations of items with the silk, few areas are untouched. Adding political and societal changes that will affect both the fortunes of the merchants and the weavers, Anna’s struggles with the new restrictions placed on her life and her continued interest in Henri, immigration issues with the influx of French weavers and even the questions regarding her choice, the story keeps moving forward. Neatly tied with an epilogue that helps to answer some of these questions not addressed directly in the text, the story was engaging, unique and informative, perfect for those interested in the history and feel of a newcomer to mid 18th century London.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=”http://wp.me/p3OmRo-909/” > </a> I am, Indeed </a>

I have tried several time to get into this book without luck. I just was not drawn into the story. I will continue to try and if I change my mind I will change the feedback and the review.

Anna Butterfield comes from a small town and with the passing of her mother, her father sends her to relatives in big city London and with the culture shock she is expected to become a lady of society and find the match best for her family. When a chance encounter happens right when she gets in town, it will turn her life upside down.

What a great book! Another historical fiction book that informed me of what is going on in that time for society and women specifically and schooled me on the business of silk. I have read a lot of historical fiction books that comment on fashion and the evolution, but I loved how this book zeroed in on silk and the complexities of making it, designing with it and the business of it. I have said this before, but I love when a book makes me want to google and find out more and this one did over and over again.

As I touched on before this book dealt with class issues and the importance for women at the time to pick the right mate, not for love, but for the future of themselves and their families. It is always interesting to read a book where a character is conflicted with going along with the family expectations or completely rebelling and going the opposite direction!

I loved this one. I was nervous about reading it after having read a lot of historical fiction in a row, but with a different setting and a different spot in time, this one felt unique compared to my recent reads.

There is something about Trenow's historical fiction that pulls me in every time and The Hidden Thread is no exception. Most of my historical ficton reading consists of the wealthy or at least the comfortable and this gave me a peek at the struggles of those in the silk trade - both those that sold the silk and those that wove the silk - which I had never given any thought to before. It's a fascinating world full of tension, heartache, pride and artistry.

The story is told in third person but from two POVs. We go back and forth between Henri, a gifted young silk weaver with a tragic past, and Anna, the daughter of a country vicar and neice of a mercer who makes a comfortable living. After the death of her mother, Anna is sent to London to live with her relatives and hopefully make a good marriage for the survival of her family. She's completely and totally out of her element and incredibly homesick. I found the contrast between the life of a social climbing city woman and country woman incredibly interesting as we see Anna deal with the differences - especially the loss of both her freedom and responsibilities. Henri's responsibilities are also huge. He wants to earn enough to take care of his mother - a role he had to step into when he was very young. He wants to be a master weaver and he's concerned about the riots and the violence and what it will do to the people he loves and his craft.

One thing I really appreciated in The Hidden Thread was that I really saw how difficult these life changes were for Anna. Uprooting from the country to London and having to marry well to secure financial security for the family is not an uncommon plot but I don't think I've ever seen the internal struggle and sacrifice portrayed so well and so deeply.

This is a moving story with likable and sympathetic main characters and a fascinating setting. If you love historical fiction but haven't read Trenow before than I highly recomend you start here. I will be eagerly awaiting her next book!