The Girl with the Golden Scissors

From the bestselling author of The Lioness of Morocco and The Elephant Keeper’s Daughter, the story of an ambitious young woman discovering friendship, love, and her own identity on the eve of World War I.

Christmas 1889. A baby is born in the early hours at Vienna General Hospital, only to be abandoned by her unwed mother and entrusted to a foundling home and its loving caretaker.

Fanny Schindler grows from a precocious girl into a strong-willed young woman. Undeterred by the rules of her station, she’s determined to rise above her humble origins and pursue her dreams at all costs, becoming an apprentice to one of the most glamorous fashion houses in Austria-Hungary. All the while, as Fanny searches for a sense of belonging, her path crosses with those of three people who will change her future. To one, she is a cherished friend. To another, a confidant. And to a handsome career soldier, something more.

When hostilities in Europe burst into flame as a brutal world war, the future of the dual monarchy is at stake, friendships are strained, loyalties are tested, and everything is at risk. And when long-buried secrets about Fanny’s past come to light, she must decide what truly matters—and what is worth fighting for in a new world of infinite possibilities.

Julia and Horst Drosten write historical novels together under the pseudonym Julia Drosten. In their spare time, Julia loves to do yoga, and Horst runs regularly. Horst is also a very skilled cook, and Julia loves to eat the meals he creates. The authors have written many works of historical fiction in German, and they greatly enjoy conducting research for their novels—diving into history and making the past come alive. They count flying in a historic biplane, watching the workers in a butcher’s shop, exploring Egypt, and being pampered by a beautician among their research pursuits. The authors of The Lioness of Morocco, an Amazon bestseller in Germany and the United States, and The Elephant Keeper’s Daughter, Julia and Horst live in the idyllic Münsterland in Germany. The Girl with the Golden Scissors, originally published in German under the title Das Mädchen mit der goldenen Schere, is their third novel translated into English.

Deborah Langton was born in Reading, England. She studied German and French literature at Cambridge and has worked in Munich, Berlin, Milan, Abu Dhabi, London, and Manchester. After a rewarding first career teaching and lecturing, she moved into translation while still working at Munich’s Ludwig Maximilian University. She loves translating fiction best of all. Deborah now lives in a rural location not far from London and translates in her study with views toward England’s South Downs. She shares her life with her husband, Chris, and their two fine sons, Joseph and Samuel.