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|title=The Dressmaker

|sort=Dressmaker, The

|publisher=Sphere

|date=February 2013

|summary=A novel combining glamour, fashion, career struggles and moral dilemmas in the aftermath of the Titanic.

}}

I’ve always avoided stories with a strong link to the Titanic; it’s such a depressing and distressing topic, especially for those of us with an active imagination! However, I was attracted to this novel for different reasons. Telling the story of Tess, a talented seamstress looking for a break, the core relationship is one that is not often explored – that between employee and employer. Designer Lady Duff Gordon takes Tess on as her maid on the Titanic and quickly becomes a mentor and example as Tess develops her craft. But what happened on the voyage threatens their relationship and Tess finds herself facing all kinds of moral dilemmas.