Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Readers who participated in this year’s One Book, One L&A program will have a chance to meet Jennifer Robson, author of The Gown, Oct. 27 at the Amherstview Branch Library.
Robson’s title was the book selected for this year’s program, which encouraged readers from across the county to read the selected book. Robson will be the special guest at the county’s sixth annual Author Gala on Oct. 27, which begins at 1 p.m.
“I was delighted,” Robson said of when she learned her book was chosen for this year’s One Book, One L&A. “I wake up most days and have to remind myself I’m actually making a go of this whole being a writer and people seem to actually be interested in buying my book. It’s very hard to believe that it’s actually happening to me.”
The Gown delves deep into the creation of Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown, told through the eyes of two fictional characters. Using her background as a history major, Robson went through great lengths to ensure authenticity on as many details as possible.
“Nobody who loves the royal family is going to find anything to upset them in this book,” said Robson. “But I don’t think you have to be a mad keen royalist to enjoy it. The royal connection is there, very much so. But more than that its a story of two women trying to make their way in the world in the aftermath of the Second World War. That’s really what I wanted to write about.”
Using the creation of the wedding gown as the centrepiece, the book explores a side of the war that isn’t told very often. It looks at how even though the Allies won, there was still great loss as they picked up the pieces from bombings to major cities such as London.
Registration for the Gala is not required and admission is by donation. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. The Amherstview Branch is located at 322 Amherst Drive.