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The Dressmaker

3.4 of 5 stars 3.40 · rating details · 8,624 ratings · 1,614 reviews

Just in time for the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic comes a vivid, romantic, and relentlessly compelling historical novel about a spirited young woman who survives the disaster only to find herself embroiled in the media frenzy left in the wake of the tragedy.

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by...more

Hardcover, 306 pages

Published February 21st 2012 by Doubleday

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Nov 07, 2012 Evangeline Holland rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: edwardian, historical-fiction, arc, 1910s, america, high-society, ocean-liner

Incredibly disappointed with The Dressmaker. It is riddled with historical inaccuracies, is full of shallow characters (the fictional ones were lame and the real ones were all wrong), and is plagued by unpolished writing. This really felt like a first draft of the story, which is a shame since the bare bones of the premise had the potential for a gripping page-turner.

25 likes · like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historic-fiction-1900s

Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

I have started to review Kate Alcott's The Dressmaker a hundred times and a hundred times I've thrown up my hands in frustration. Focusing on content alone makes it impossible to understand where I am coming from, but examining my experience with the book also leaves quite a bit out. Apologies, but this might be a little long winded.

It seems like a lifetime ago, but like so many I went through a Tita...more Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

I have started to review Kate Alcott's The Dressmaker a hundred times and a hundred times I've thrown up my hands in frustration. Focusing on content alone makes it impossible to understand where I am coming from, but examining my experience with the book also leaves quite a bit out. Apologies, but this might be a little long winded.

It seems like a lifetime ago, but like so many I went through a Titanic phase, studying anything and everything I could get my hands on. The publication of The Dressmaker rekindled that interest. Eagerly I waited for the book to become available at my local library.

While I waited, I came across a New York Times article that detailed the trials Patricia O'Brien faced in getting her manuscript to print. I was naturally upset by the treatment she received from the publishing industry and by the time I finally landed a copy of her work was convinced her struggle was entirely unjust. Then of course, I read the book.

I'm sorry, but Jack Dawson winning a pair of tickets in a lucky hand of poker was more believable than Tess Collins landing a position with Lucile Duff Gordon on the docks the day Titanic set sail. It is a pivotal moment, one the entire book depends on, but I couldn't force myself to swallow it for anything. The very idea is nothing short of ridiculous though not quite so much as the manner in which Alcott tackled the actual sinking.

Alcott's story begins in Cherbourg on April 10th, the iceberg made famous by the tragedy is first mentioned on page 48 and by page 65 our plucky heroine is watching dawn break over the waves from a lifeboat in the north Atlantic. While I can understand that Alcott wanted to focus on the hearings that followed the sinking, I cannot wrap my head around actual event receiving less than twenty pages of text. Honestly it might as well have been left out entirely.

Do you see what I'm getting at? The story lacked plausibility, there is no real development of the characters or their relationships and it utterly failed to strike the emotional chord I expected considering the intense subject matter. I wanted to like the piece, but Alcott missed the mark at nearly every turn, the exception being female reporter Pinky Wade who I actually enjoyed even if her involvement with the suffragette movement clashed with the legal proceedings that inspired Alcott to write the book.

I forced myself to finish the piece, but it was an uphill battle all the way. By the time I completed the final page I couldn't help wondering if this book was ever given a fair shot. It was initially rejected because of the author's sales record, but it was also part of the rush of Titanic lit that was released to coincide with the centennial anniversary of the disaster. Was it at all possible that the book was rushed through the editing process? Would this lack of development and conflicting storylines exist if the book were to have been released on some other date? Would the marketing department have created a promotional campaign that more accurately reflected the content of the book if they hadn't been concerned with a deadline? These are just a few of the questions that plagued me every time I attempted to write this review, the root cause of my frustration and reason I don't really know how to phrase my feelings on the book.

I honest don't know if I had trouble with The Dressmaker because I couldn't appreciate Alcott's style of storytelling or because I set an unrealistic expectation and that my judgment was corrupted before I even got hold of the piece. I am willing to admit both played a part in forming my overall impression of the book, but I suppose in the end it doesn't really matter. I liked the idea of the book, Alcott's exploration of the aftermath, but the execution failed to draw me in.(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Jul 09, 2012 Clare Cannon rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adults & Young Adults (females)

Shelves: young-adult, adults

Here is a sweet historical romance, and though it is light on realism and tends towards idyllic fiction, several slightly deeper themes make the sweetness more satisfying. It offers a refreshing middle-path between new fiction which leans towards the sadder extremes of human experience and that which artificially sweetens it for pure escapism. In this respect it reminded me of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, though that comparison shouldn't be taken too far.

The plot, which fol...more Here is a sweet historical romance, and though it is light on realism and tends towards idyllic fiction, several slightly deeper themes make the sweetness more satisfying. It offers a refreshing middle-path between new fiction which leans towards the sadder extremes of human experience and that which artificially sweetens it for pure escapism. In this respect it reminded me of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, though that comparison shouldn't be taken too far.

The plot, which follows an English servant-girl on her voyage on the Titanic and what follows, is not realistic in the sense that so many things work in her favour. (view spoiler). This doesn't prevent it being enjoyable, however.

The writing is not terribly impressive and even feels awkward and repetitive in parts. Some sentences begged to be re-read in the hope of deciphering their meaning or determining who was speaking, and several typos in the text were jarring. Descriptive terms were unimaginative and repetitive, hair was always 'luxuriant', someone was always 'relishing' something, and a sailor described his work as 'healing', which sounded more like 21st century popular psychology than early 20th century sailor-talk.

However, the characters are generally good company. Tess (the servant) is a nice girl, and through her journey she learns much about who she wants to become, the ambitions that drive her and where she may end up, and about the people she meets and which relationships are most worthwhile. Pinky is an entertaining, independent female journalist who occasionally lets her heart get too involved in her story, though always on the right side. Jim isn't given a lot of space, but it's easy to like what we see of the grounded young sailor who isn't afraid to do what's right. Madame Lucy - the fashion designer who employs Tess - is rather erratic, but that makes more sense if you know she was supposed to have been bi-polar.

On to some of the slightly deeper themes. Much of the story involves seeking truth and objectivity about human actions in the face of disaster. People have different responses to extreme situations, some are heroic, others inoffensively selfish, and others are selfish to the point of hurting others. The story acknowledges that not everyone can be expected to be brave under pressure, but it also advocates honesty in facing one's actions and giving bravery due praise and cowardice due repentance.

It raises the question of why so many more of the rich survived the disaster than the poor who were accommodated below, and shows what was done to address this in the hearings and legislation that followed. It acknowledges that good can be done with money, but also that it is not a solution for personal problems and does not necessarily bring happiness.

Feminism makes a brief appearance, and one gets the impression that some feminist claims (like denouncing male chivalry) are not as strongly supported in the story as others (like allowing women to vote). Shorter hem-lines are seen as enabling women to move more easily, and given that before they were covering one's shoes and 'shorter' means showing the ankle or perhaps the knee, I quite agree that it was a good idea.

The romance is sweet, involving two very different suitors. I never much liked Tess' involvement with the twice-married, twice-divorced millionaire, and I think it was only her beauty that attracted him. Things do get warm, particularly when she considers accepting his offer to take her away with him, but thankfully she is not only true to her character and the propriety of her time, but she also learns that the daring 'freedom' offered by her wealthy suitor does not compare with the genuine love and respect offered by the poorer one.

All in all it's an enjoyable read with a dash of substance for females 16+. www.GoodReadingGuide.com (less)

9 likes · like · see review

May 25, 2012 Cris rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, disasters

I am disappointed in this book. Despite the inherently dramatic and heart-rending disaster at the heart of the story, Alcott created a story lacking in emotion.

Maybe I've been watching too much Downtown Abbey, but Tess didn't ring true at all. This young woman was raised in England and had been in service for at least a year; she should have been well aware of the expected behaviors and privileges associated with the different classes. Alcott could have created a character who was rebelling aga...more

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May 11, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People with an interest in Titanic; people who enjoy light historical fiction.

Shelves: all-of-the-feelings, historical-fiction, history, fiction, romance, strong-females, read-in-2012

I've been a Titanic nut since I was nine or ten. Initially I just jumped on the James Cameron's Titanic bandwagon, but soon it turned into something more. Sixteen years later, I have a fascination with the catastrophe. So I was very, very excited when I found this on my library's Fortunate Finds shelf circa the 100th anniversary of the sinking.

The novel begins in Cherbourg, when Tess is picked up by Lady Duff Gordon and given passage on the Titanic. Tess is a maid with the ultimate goal of becom...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Kristy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, realistic

Look at this cover!!!! It's gorgeous right?
I was really expecting a romantic, titanic tale with some rich designer or something. This was pretty good, but it wasn't that....

In a nutshell this is a fictional story trying to answer why did only one life-boat go back to rescue overboard passengers from the titanic. Alcott really focuses in on one boat in particular- Lifeboat #1, the Duff-Gordon's boat.
I am warning you I think I am about to go on a "Kristy Ramble".

This book was very informative, li...more

16 likes · like · see review

Jan 11, 2013 Ellie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, contemporary, historical, 2013, reviewed

Set in 1912, The Dressmaker tells the story of Tess Collins, an aspiring dressmaker, who manages to find a job working for the world renowned dress designer Lady Lucile Duff-Gordon as a maid while she and her husband travel to America on board the Titanic. On board the ship, Tess meets two men, one an older but handsome Millionaire and the other an attractive, kind and good-hearted sailor and develops feelings for both of them. This is a tale about the aftermath of the disaster and about Tess, h...more Set in 1912, The Dressmaker tells the story of Tess Collins, an aspiring dressmaker, who manages to find a job working for the world renowned dress designer Lady Lucile Duff-Gordon as a maid while she and her husband travel to America on board the Titanic. On board the ship, Tess meets two men, one an older but handsome Millionaire and the other an attractive, kind and good-hearted sailor and develops feelings for both of them. This is a tale about the aftermath of the disaster and about Tess, her dreams for her career as a dress designer and finding love.

The Dressmaker is an engrossing, compelling and well-written story of the aftermath of the Titanic's sinking with interesting and well-developed characters. It is a mostly fictional book set around factual events. I really enjoyed this novel. It was very hard to put it down. I loved all the historical details about the Titanic and its survivors. I liked this unique take on the Titanic disaster. Not many books about the Titanic sinking feature the aftermath of it and how survivors try to deal with what happened and move on.

Most of the characters were quite likable and easy to relate to. The character I liked best of all was Pinky Wade. The Duff-Gordon's and Elinor Glyn weren't likable at all. The three of them came off as being cold and manipulating. I had complicated feelings for some of the characters. I really liked the character of Tess but sometimes she annoyed me. Tess was very fickle at times and I got pissed off at her and just wanted her to make up her mind already! (view spoiler)

This book was a great attempt of a debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author!

4 Stars! (less)

21 likes · like · see review

May 29, 2012 Elena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, audiobooks, adult, love-triangle

3.5 stars. Not my usual cup of tea, which is why I read it. It got bogged down a bit in the middle and got a little heavy-handed with theme near the end, but it was an overall solid read.

I especially appreciated that this book went beyond surviving the sinking of the Titanic and examined what came next--survivor guilt, media frenzy, hearings full of lies and half-truths, etc.

The book follows enough characters that even though they occasionally felt flat or annoyed me, the POV was switched up oft...more

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Mar 05, 2012 MissSusie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, historical-fiction, lter

I really liked this book even with the romance storyline; it made me want to do research on what happened after the sinking of the Titanic and to learn more about the survivors, which to me is what makes a good historical fiction book. We all know the story of the sinking of the Titanic but I for one knew almost nothing about the aftermath, the scandal of what happened on the lifeboats, and the senate hearings.

This book is about more than just the aftermath of the Titanic but that is the backdro...more I really liked this book even with the romance storyline; it made me want to do research on what happened after the sinking of the Titanic and to learn more about the survivors, which to me is what makes a good historical fiction book. We all know the story of the sinking of the Titanic but I for one knew almost nothing about the aftermath, the scandal of what happened on the lifeboats, and the senate hearings.

This book is about more than just the aftermath of the Titanic but that is the backdrop that makes it fascinating. A young lady named Tess is an aspiring dressmaker and is hoping to get a job on the Titanic to get passage to America however no jobs are to be found the day of sailing while on the dock wondering what to do but not willing to give up she overhears a conversation, famous designer Lady Duff Gordon’s maid isn’t going to make the trip and Tess jumps at the chance and talks the woman into hiring her. Tess is astounded by the opulence of the ship and is also enamored by Lady Duff Gordon. But as we all know the trip does not go as planned but it is what happens afterwards that makes this story. Tess and the Duff Gordon’s are in separate lifeboats and the rumors about what happened in the Duff Gordon’s boat are shocking and to Tess completely unbelievable, but what really happened, is her new boss what she thought or are the stories true?

There is also a bit of a chaste love triangle involving Tess which didn’t deter me from my enjoyment of this book it actually added nicely to the story and fleshed out the character of Tess. The other characters in this book were all well fleshed out and believable.

I really enjoyed this book and stayed up till 3 am finishing it because I just needed to know what was going to happen with Tess. I would actually love a second book to find out what happens to Tess next and if she ended up fulfilling her American dream.

I highly recommend this well written historical drama.

4 ½ Stars

I received this book from Librarything Early Reviewers Program(less)

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Feb 21, 2012 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

It's now almost 100 years since the Unsinkable Titanic sunk. This book is based on some true rather sad facts of what happened on this doomed cruise.
The story opens with Tess Collins escaping her job, supposed to be a seamstress, but is a more of a general maid. She knows a ship is sailing and hopes to secure any kind of a position to get on and get away from England. There her fateful adventure is about to begin. It's an eye opening world for her as she goes about in First Class on the ship, sh...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Judith rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When Tess Collins walked away from a thankless housemaid job in Cherbourg...in 1912....and simultaneously found employment as a maid on the soon-to-be sailing Titanic ocean liner...little did she know that History would become a major part of her life

Given that the hearings, post "sinking", are a major part of this story, the actual trials are secondary to the social aspects....even the newly minted Suffragette Movement is given a back seat to the development of Tess' story, and character (such...more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 03, 2012 Book Sp(l)ot rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, 2012-release, historical

We all know of the Titanic, the Unsinkable Ship that struck and iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912. The ship, touted as the greatest ship ever built has had numerous novels written about it - and the eponymous film we've seen so many times made about it. What most of us don't know is what after the sinking of the RMS Titanic. That's where The Dressmaker comes in.

Tess Collins' is looking for a way to escaping working for the family that employs her when she runs to the docks the day the Titanic i...more We all know of the Titanic, the Unsinkable Ship that struck and iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912. The ship, touted as the greatest ship ever built has had numerous novels written about it - and the eponymous film we've seen so many times made about it. What most of us don't know is what after the sinking of the RMS Titanic. That's where The Dressmaker comes in.

Tess Collins' is looking for a way to escaping working for the family that employs her when she runs to the docks the day the Titanic is disembarking from Cherbourg. She manages to finagle her way into working for the famous Lady Lucile Doff Gordon as a maid - for now. Tess knows how to sew, not be a maid, but will do whatever it takes to start a new life.

The firs part of the book is filled with Tess and Lady Duff Gordon, "Madame's" life onboard the Titanic. Readers are introduced to many of the same characters they may already be familiar with from some other semi-fictional Titanic themed works: Isidor Straus, Margaret Brown, the Astors, and of course, Cosmo Duff Gordon as well as characters unique to The Dressmaker. The first class workings of the ship are also (minimally) introduced.

The sinking of the ship occurs rather quickly. Yet, not at all, without emotion. While there is so much of the novel left that you know that at least some of these main characters are going to survive the sinking, it still puts a hitch in your throat to read.

Where Titanic left viewers with Rose arriving safely in New York, in The Dressmaker that is really just where Tess' journey begins. This novel delves into the hearings that were held, investigating what happened on the Titanic - who, if anyone, was to be held accountable and really shows the different ways different survivors reacted. Both to simply surviving as well as to how and/or why they did survive.

It's is definitely a side of the RMS Titanic tragedy that is rarely examined in fiction and I greatly enjoyed it being a part here. Especially as it ran parallel (yet also a great part of) to Tess attempting to begin that new life she was so bound and determined to start that day on the docks.

What is truly fantastic about The Dressmaker - aside from the fictional aspects that are a part of it - is that very, very few if any of the characters are identifiable as good or bad. The characters are so many shades of gray that it's hard to really decide which to side with. Some of it, sure, is the situation. After such a traumatic event it's hard to dislike even those that appear to have made questionable decisions but it also makes it easier to forgive the seeming 'good' guys who do some odd things or believe in the 'bad' guys who do a good thing.

The characters were incredibly human in that regard. There was no set good guy with a halo over their halo or an identifiable devil (at least not among the main characters). It was nice that the morality and decisions of most of the characters seemed murkier than dishwater most of the time.

Kate Alcott's novel not only gives us a marvelous glimpse into what happened after the Carpathia docked, but also what 1914 New York was like - for women, in fashion, as a city. It's a remarkable novel, that I really enjoyed.

(thank you to the publisher for my arc)(less)

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May 09, 2013 Marjorie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I chose this book because several people I know have read it. I liked it very much. I probably would have given another star, but I listened to it and the narrator was not very good. For instance she had the heroine speak in a breathless little girl voice. While the heroine was young and naive, I would not have pictured her with such a voice. So it was very distracting.

I have never read any fiction or otherwise about the Titanic. I did not see the movie. I wasn't sure I even wanted to read about...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Kirsten rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: on-my-own

This is the story of Tess, a young woman who is working as a maid but is a talented seamstress, and her decision to go to America on a boat known as the Titanic. She gets a job as a maid for a famous dress designer (a real person called Lucille Duff Gordon) because the maid doesn't show up, but Tess is anything but a maid...she is a confidante, she is protege, etc. Of course, to anyone who knows anything about history, the ship's voyage is ill-fated, and the rest of the story becomes a tale of t...more This is the story of Tess, a young woman who is working as a maid but is a talented seamstress, and her decision to go to America on a boat known as the Titanic. She gets a job as a maid for a famous dress designer (a real person called Lucille Duff Gordon) because the maid doesn't show up, but Tess is anything but a maid...she is a confidante, she is protege, etc. Of course, to anyone who knows anything about history, the ship's voyage is ill-fated, and the rest of the story becomes a tale of the survivors, their rescue, the hearings in New York and Washington, Tess's struggle to choose between loyalty and morality and ethics and conscience and opportunity, and her love for two very different men. While this story is probably not very realistic in many ways, all compressed into about a month, it still highlights the dilemma of the survivors and explores the reasons behind survivor's guilt and also who you blame when fear takes over as you try to survive.

Tess is the most believable and three-dimensional of the characters, and you really get a full range of her emotions and how she grows from the experiences. Jim is a very interesting character if not as fully developed, and I just adored Pinky the scrappy woman reporter for the Times who also grows in the story learning about friendship and caring for the people in her lives...as the book unfolds she becomes more and more three dimensional especially as you get glimpses of her personal world. I thought Lucille was intentionally left as a haughty, self-absorbed character, but it is interesting when you get glimpses of her more complex nature -- I'm sure there are real people who hide behind such masks. Elinor, though a minor character and Lucille's sister and foil, is actually one of my favorite because she sheds light on the whole Lucille mystery and gives Tess a chance to "shine". Jack is probably the shallowest character next to Cosmo, but I think there is not room to develop them further and they serve their purpose well enough. Therefore, with this wide array of characters, I think the author has masterfully and intentionally chosen who to develop, who to not develop, and when to show glimpses of growth.
The ending leaves us very much NOT knowing Tess's future, but it is still satisfying because she resolves her emotional dilemma's enough and you know she has a bright road ahead of her regardless of what she chooses. No neatly tied strings here, but more real in that respect.

I also liked the historical setting about the boat, the changing times with fashion and transportation, and the juxtraposition of the British and the Americans of those times.....the British still had their empire and the upper classes and sense of station, but you got that the Americans were different, and also that Tess is taking on the American attitudes about class being more nebulous. Just look at how she addresses Lucille at the beginning of the book and how it changes over the course of the tale.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes historical stories, but it is NOT fast paced and it is not sweep off your feet romance. It is a well-told tale about characters caught in the aftermath of the sinking of the Titanic and their various ways of dealing with the circumstances of being a survivor. (less)

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Mar 27, 2013 Adysnewbox rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Maybe I was in a "historical drama" kind of mood. It's the story of a working-class English girl who falls in with a prestigious fashion designer, and accompanies her on a voyage to America...aboard The TITANIC. You can probably guess what happens next...the ship sinks; the title character and her new boss barely survive; they both have to deal with the fallout in America.

Although there are certain elements that reminded me of the 1997 James Cameron film...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Britt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Britt by: Mom

The Dressmaker, written by Kate Alcott, is an amusing and truly engaging story about the sinking of the Titanic. The author takes a peculiar view on the ship’s tragedy by creating characters such as Lady Duff Gordon, a famous fashion designer, and Tess Collins, a low-class maid. Although the plot of the story revolves around the sinking of the Titanic, the story line is about Tess becoming Lady Duff Gordon’s assistant on the Titanic. The two women form an indescribable relationship on their jour...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Kimberly rated it 1 of 5 stars

I was sorely disappointed in this book.

I read this book because it was chosen by my book club. I had no knowledge of the content/subject matter before I began.

I find it so interesting that those who purport to expunge class lines tend to promote them most vehemently. In this story we are forced to embrace the lower class character simply because he is lower class. So, if we choose the working-class over the titled we are being unbiased? urgh!

I grew up on a reservation and I have first-hand know...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Kirsty Maclennan rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I saw the gorgeous cover for ‘The Dressmaker’ I was intrigued to discover what the story was about.

I will admit I don’t read historical novels, I tend to stick to modern fiction, stories that mention technology.

But that being said, thanks to the eye catching red dress on the cover I have read one of the most profound and touching books, I’ve ever been fortunate to come across.

We all know the story of the Titanic but ‘The Dressmaker’ takes us on a journey that’s not just emotional but full o...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Brenda rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not having read much about the Titanic, I was looking forward to reading this book about a young English girl who got a last minute job as a maid on the Titanic. The girl, Tess, ran away from a family who employed her and managed to meet and be hired by a famous designer. Of course Tess, the designer and her husband all survive along with the intriguing rich man and young sailor Tess befriends. Upon arriving in New York, the truth of what really happened while the boat was going down come out. T...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Marie Z. Johansen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I wasn't quite certain what to expect when I began reading this debut historical novel by Kate Alcott book, but since I have a yen for the turn of the 19th century (prior to WW I) I thought I'd give it go. I was most happily surprised with an excellent read that is historical fiction at some of its best.

The book begins as a young Tess Collins flees from the home where she is employed doing menial labor and stitching for the family of a vexing, sexually groping teenaged boy. Determined to better...more I wasn't quite certain what to expect when I began reading this debut historical novel by Kate Alcott book, but since I have a yen for the turn of the 19th century (prior to WW I) I thought I'd give it go. I was most happily surprised with an excellent read that is historical fiction at some of its best.

The book begins as a young Tess Collins flees from the home where she is employed doing menial labor and stitching for the family of a vexing, sexually groping teenaged boy. Determined to better herself, and become the dressmaker that she dreams of becoming, Tess rashly flees the house and heads to the dock where the Titanic is tied up, waiting to begin her ill fated voyage to America and the history books. Somewhat easily, Tess wrangles a position as a lady's maid to the famous designer, Lady Duff Gordon (aka Lady Lucille) and quickly finds herself surrounded in a luxurious world of good food, designer clothing a soft bed, kind gentlemen and an imperious mistress. On board Tess makes the acquaintance of an interesting, well dressed,well mannered handsome man, Jack Bremerton. She also becomes friendly with a sailor named Jim.

From this point the book covers much of the usual Titanic fare. The iceberg and the ill trained staff, the life boats that launched half empty and the flailing and screams that came from the tortured waters. Tess and the Duff-Gordons are separated and wind up in separate life boats. Eventually rescued by the crew of the Carpathia the story picks as the differing tales of what really happened in those life boats begins. Tess imagines that the fascinating Jack did not survive as there had been no word of him. Jim and she meet on the deck of the Carpathia, both had survived.

Upon arrival in New York the few surviving passengers and crew begin to pick up the remnants of their lives. Tess moves with the Duff-Gordons to the Plaza hotel and is hired to be 'an assistant', rather than a maid, in Lucille's dress atelier. Jim manages to locate Tess, and they discuss those fateful hours together. Jack Bremerton is, indeed, found to have survived the tragedy. He finds Tess and begins courting her. A female reported for the New York Times called Pinky becomes involved with the investigation, and befriends both Tess and Jim. Ultimately, the Senate becomes involved in the investigation and survivors and crew are called upon to testify. There are allegations that Lady and Cosmo Duff Gordon bribed the sailor to not go back for more survivors and that they pushed people back into the sea fro fear that they would be swamped in the effort.

The cast of characters is well rounded and well fleshed out. The 'unsinkable' Molly Brown is also one of the characters in this novel. What I really liked about this book is the historical portrait of the times that it provided. The suffragette movement and women's rights for equal pay were in full swing during this time period, as was the beginning of the industrial revolution. The times were changing, and the people were trying to adapt to the world that I think they felt was becoming out of control. This book presents not only a portrait of a tragedy it amply provides a fleeting glimpse of what the world was like during these precious pre war moments... it was a time on the brink of change and this book brings you into the time and the place quite well.

I found myself fully involved in these characters and in the times in which they lived. Ms. Alcotts presentation was flawless and I look forward to her next book! (less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, historical-fiction, adventure-survival

Tess Collins, a young aspiring seamstress, longs to escape her life of servitude in England. She is hired by the famous dress designer, Lucille Duff Gordon, to be her personal assistant as Lucille travels to America on the Titanic. For the first time in her life, Tess feels free. While on the voyage she meets two men--a young crew member and a wealthy American businessman. Both men are attracted to her. When disaster strikes the Titanic, Tess becomes separated from Lucille, but both manage to bo...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Ana Ivkov rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I want, really, really, REALLY badly, to rate this book with five stars. And I know that under normal circumstances I would. But I knew by the third chapter that I couldn't. And I'm sorry. Really sorry. But I just can't do it.
Why?
Well, it's not that the book doesn't deserve five stars. It does. And it's set in 1912, with Lady Lucile Duff Gordon and the Titanic and the inquiries as the main stars. It gives such a new, fresh perspective on the story that it's hard not to love it. (Especially consi...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Laurel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: appealing-covers, books-i-own, historical-fiction, every-year-challenge

Well worth staying up till 2:30 in the morning for! I really enjoyed this book, reading it in one long sitting. Having read a lot of "Titanic"-related fiction and nonfiction, this was a fresh look at passengers, and their fates. The main character, Tessa, is a young woman desperate to escape a life of drudgery as a housemaid, in order to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. She heads to the dockyards, hoping to find some type of employmnet on the ship, only to find that all positions...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Susan Bright rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tess Collins wanted out. Out of a life of servitude. She was tired of doing laundry, making beds and waiting on people. She was a seamstress, not a maid and she was ready to prove it! There was a huge ship sailing for New York and Tess was determined to be on it. Surely she could get a job on the ship and once in New York she would start a new life.

Unfortunately Tess was too late and there were no more jobs on the ship, but Tess would not accept defeat and fate was on her side when the famous de...more Tess Collins wanted out. Out of a life of servitude. She was tired of doing laundry, making beds and waiting on people. She was a seamstress, not a maid and she was ready to prove it! There was a huge ship sailing for New York and Tess was determined to be on it. Surely she could get a job on the ship and once in New York she would start a new life.

Unfortunately Tess was too late and there were no more jobs on the ship, but Tess would not accept defeat and fate was on her side when the famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon’s personal maid failed to show up. Tess was hired to accompany the Duff Gordon’s on the voyage. This was a dream come true. Yes, she was still just a maid, but she would be working with Lady Duff Gordon!

Madame Gordon as she insisted on being called was not an easy person to please but Tess would do anything to make this work. When she was not waiting on Madame, Tess was free to explore the Titanic and was amazed to see how the rich and famous lived. She loved the beautiful clothing and the delicate china. She even managed to attract the attention of Jack Bremerton, a wealthy Chicago business man as well as Jim Bonney, a young sailor, both whom would plan an important part in her future.

Unfortunately, on the fourth night of the voyage tragedy struck. The unimaginable had happened. The amazing ship had hit an iceberg and chaos erupted. Lady Duff Gordon, and her husband Cosmo escaped on life boat #1 with Tess’ sailor friend Jim Bonney, and Tess escaped on lifeboat #6 with Margaret Brown. And all of this happens in the first 50 pages of the book.

Once in New York, Tess was taken under Madame’s wing. Finally she could have everything she ever dreamed of, but at what cost? Why was Lady Duff Gordon’s lifeboat more than half empty and what part did Jim Bonney play in the decision to launch with so few people aboard? Why was Tess’s lifeboat the only one that even bothered to try to pick up the survivors?

The Dressmaker is a thoroughly entertaining audio book and is beautifully read by Susan Duerden. The book focuses on what happened after the sinking of the Titanic. According to the author’s notes, the testimonies were taken directly from the transcripts of the U.S. Senate hearings. Although Tess Collins was a fictional character many of the other characters were not. Lady Duff Gordon and her husband really did escape on a life boat with only 12 people on it, when it could have held up to 50 people. Margaret Brown (The Unsinkable Molly Brown), is considered a hero for insisting that her lifeboat return to pick up survivors. Although it was an easy read and could have gone into more detail, I still managed to learn quite a bit about the sinking of the Titanic and the hearings that followed which resulted in legislation requiring sufficient lifeboats on today’s ships. Of course, I may be one of the few that never saw the movie The Titanic!
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Nov 15, 2012 Nathalie S rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a fascinating period book about the sinking of the Titanic and the aftermath scandal and hearings. Some of the characters are real such as Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon and his wife, Lady Lucile Duff Gordon who owned a popular upperclass dress shop, the House of Lucille. Also making an appearance is Mrs. Margaret Brown, more famously known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown. The trial scenes are taken directly from the Senate hearings. The story begins with Tess Collins, an aspiring seamstress, who q...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Michelle Sampson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

3.5 stars. I was intrigued by the historical backdrop of this story: the sinking of the Titanic. Just because of that it was heart wrenching to read since we all know what happened that fateful day. What I like about it that is different than the James Cameron movie (which I love) is that you see what takes place after the survivors were rescued.

What really happened that night when only one boat went back to look for survivors in the water? There are still questions today that are unanswered an...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Ashley Arthur rated it 3 of 5 stars

I checked out an e-version of this book from my library. I've heard a lot about it, and I feel like I've picked it up at the bookstore every time I've gone in for the past few months. I was glad to finally give it a try.

This is the story of Tess, a British girl who works as a servant but dreams of being a dress designer. She finds a position working as a maid aboard the Titanic for Madame Lucile Duff Gordon, the mercurial fashion designer. Madame promises to give Tess a chance in her design ware...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Cindy rated it 2 of 5 stars

The tragedy of the Titanic sinking is a moneymaker. Films, documentaries, books-there's a plethora of material out there. Kate Alcott says, in the afterword, that what drove her to add to this collection was the question, "Why did only one boat go back?" It's an interesting question, really an interesting look into mankind and its will to survive, even at the sacrifice of others. Had the book done this, had it really looked and evaluated everything, I would have loved it. Unfortunately, it falls...more The tragedy of the Titanic sinking is a moneymaker. Films, documentaries, books-there's a plethora of material out there. Kate Alcott says, in the afterword, that what drove her to add to this collection was the question, "Why did only one boat go back?" It's an interesting question, really an interesting look into mankind and its will to survive, even at the sacrifice of others. Had the book done this, had it really looked and evaluated everything, I would have loved it. Unfortunately, it falls flat. It didn't have to though. The novel has an interesting premise. Instead of the novel being about the Titanic crash, it actually revolves around the week or two after the crash and the hearings held to investigate what went wrong. The question of why people didn't go back is answered, succinctly, and the safety issues on board were also addressed, again in like a paragraph, and that's it. I wanted the novel to be about that. Not about a cliched story of rich vs. poor with one dimensional characters. I understand THAT is the story behind all the deaths but adding depth to the characters would have been nice. By the time KA tries to add a sympathic note to, for example, Lucille, it's too late. The love story revolving around the cloyingly sweet, naive, and annoying young woman named Tess was just unnecessary. She vacillates between a wealthy man and a poor man. KA tries to make this into a love triangle and Tess really is torn. So much so that I found it hard to buy into her choice. I appreciated the Pinky character and also the discussion of women's rights. It was nice to see Tess try to embrace feminism. But I think I disliked Lucille so much that Tess and her soft spot for her made them both unlikeable...and if you can't like the lead character you've lost the story.

However, I did do this through audiobook which means I was with this story for two weeks instead of the few hours it probably would have taken me to read it...and that duration only adds to the annoyance so that could be clouding my judgment.

Give it a go...you might like it more than me! (less)

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Sep 30, 2012 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Fiction rarely gives you as interesting of characters as real life, and I felt like Ms. Alcott tamed them down when she could have written something extraordinary.
Lady Lucille Duff Gordon was a popular dress designer in the early 1900's. Helped along by her beneficial marriage to the wealthy Cosmo, she designed dresses for the rich and famous. Mr. and Mrs. Duff Gordon were two passengers on the Titanic and survived the sinking by climbing into lifeboat one with a handful of crew. Launched at jus...more Fiction rarely gives you as interesting of characters as real life, and I felt like Ms. Alcott tamed them down when she could have written something extraordinary.
Lady Lucille Duff Gordon was a popular dress designer in the early 1900's. Helped along by her beneficial marriage to the wealthy Cosmo, she designed dresses for the rich and famous. Mr. and Mrs. Duff Gordon were two passengers on the Titanic and survived the sinking by climbing into lifeboat one with a handful of crew. Launched at just a fraction of capacity, the Duff Gordon's faced rumors, scandal, and inquiry about their behavior and possibly bribery of crew members to not go back to help more people from the icy waters.
All of the above is the factual portion of this historical fiction novel. The story portion came in the form of Tess Collins, a talented seamstress working as a maid in England when she saw the Titanic as her ticket to a better life. She was hired last minute to be a maid for Lady Duff Gordon on the trans-Atlantic trip and soon convinced the famous designer that she could be of assistance in her New York shop. Tess also survives the sinking, though in a different lifeboat, and the impending events are told through her eyes as she struggles with who to believe, forging a newfound friendship with New York Times reporter Sara "Pinky" Wade, and chooses between a rich man who can give her everything she has ever wanted or a crewman from the Titanic who she has an undeniable pull toward.
This book was just okay. I really liked that it was based on actual people and scandal that sprung from the sinking of the Titanic. I did not know much about the Duff Gordon's except that they made brief appearances in the James Cameron classic. I also really liked the character of Tess. I though Alcott did a terrific job of showing her inner conflict between her loyalty to Lady Duff Gordon and the facts that pointed to less than compassionate actions.
However, I didn't feel overall invested in the characters and while the story was told at a steady pace, that pace never picked up enough to really pull me in. I didn't connect with the struggle to choose between the two men because I didn't feel like we had enough insight to their personalities. And, there was SO much I wanted more detail about! I just wanted the book to be more. I think it had the potential to be a well-researched and written historical fiction book if the author would have had the courage to go beyond the popular 300 page length of popular contemporary fiction.
Overall, a quick, not UNenjoyable read about one of the most captivating events in history.(less)

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Sep 18, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

This was a sweet and entertaining story of Tess, a young maid in Cherbourg, France, with a head full of dreams and considerable, but unappreciated, natural talent as a seamstress. Orphaned and alone, when she hears there are jobs on a huge ship sailing for New York, she plucks up her courage to leave the security of her job and pursue her dreams. When the rumors of a job appear to be groundless, she bluffs her way into the employ of a world reknowned dress designer for the rich and famous.

The s...more

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About Kate Alcott

Kate Alcott, a pseudonym for author Patricia O'Brien, was a newspaper reporter in Chicago and covered politics in Washington, DC. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon, is married, and the mother of four daughters.

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Quotes from The Dressmaker

“Life is an act—most of it, anyway. Get out there today and pretend you’re in charge, for goodness’ sake. Do you hear me? Lift up your head and pretend.” A flicker of a smile passed over her face. “It’s the secret to everything.” — 5 people liked it

“Trouble? Everybody gets into trouble in America -- That's what it's about.” — 3 people liked it

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