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The Dressmaker of Dachau

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The Dressmaker of Dachau

By: Mary Chamberlain
Narrated by: Julie Teal
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About this listen

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Spring 1939. Taken prisoner by the Nazis, eighteen-year-old Ada is forced into a life of slavery and horror in Dachau concentration camp. Her skill as a seamstress is the only bargaining chip she has against the brutal SS guards. Back in London, she dreamed of being a world-renowned designer; now she must sew to save her life…but at what cost?

For readers of THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ and THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ, this is a powerful and moving story of courage and resilience, betrayal and passion.

 Action & Adventure Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Urban War & Military War Survival

Critic reviews

‘The Dressmaker of Dachau is a thrilling story, brilliantly told. I couldn't put it down. Ada Vaughan is a character to fall in love with: utterly real, flawed and beguiling’ Saskia Sarginson, author of R&J pick, The Twins and Without You

‘I found myself completely swept up in this tale of love, ambition and vanity’ Juliet West, author of Before the Fall

‘A powerful and gripping tale of longings and dreams, and how a chance meeting that seems to offer the answers and more, instead comes with devastating consequences. It’s a story about what a person will do and can do under force.
The world before, during and after World War II is amazingly well-drawn. But it is the character of Ada Vaughan that lingers, her resolve, her passion and her flaws’ Cecilia Ekback
All stars
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At first I thought come on, is this going to be a bit far fetched... But no take into consideration how the world was at this time, and it's just heartbreaking how so much can happen to this woman.
Well worth a read .. Well worth.....

Believe able but heartbreaking .

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This is a very good listen about survival but depressing as you think how can one person have so much bad luck!

Good listen although a bit depressing

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It’s quite rare to listen to a story and feel every experience as it’s unfolding for the main character, this one is so brilliantly narrated I was drawn in totally from the very beginning to the very end. Whilst a work of fiction (as described at the end as an add on) the whole story felt very authentic. It’s got everything, triumph over extreme adversity, inspired survival against explicit odds, the parallel universe of madness and sanity, the depths of sadness and rejection, it’s all laid out and unfolds in every day language not sensationalism as seen in other works of fiction. The nazi thread in this book is not the focus, instead it’s a beautiful inspirational story of courage, pain, self worth and the human design of survival. Brilliantly written and thoughtfully narrated. Ten stars from me!

Moving and Beyond Authentic Feeling

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This is such a tragic story with a most unexpected ending. I enjoyed it very much but as with all war stories it is terribly sad. So many suffered and after the war no one cared. I would recommend this book. the narrator was very good.

Tragic srory

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Ada Vaughan at 19 years of age is an innocent, naive child with an extraordinary gift as a seamstress. Living with her parents in London she works in a high end ladies tailor establishment, with dreams of one day opening her own fashion House of Vaughan.

A chance encounter, on her way home one evening, with a man purporting to be an Austrian Count, leads her to leave London for a 'weekend' in Paris, in the belief he will propose to her, despite warnings that war could break out at any moment.

She finds herself stranded with him, in Paris, days later at the outbreak of war. They are forced to live in Paris until, without any warning, they leave for Belgium where he abandons her. She is rescued by an order of Nuns where her life takes on unexpected twists and turns as she fights to survive the war as a prisoner of the Germans.

Despite her suffering, she learns very little and her innocence is often projected as sublime stupidity. This is a constant throughout the book.

To be honest I found the character annoying. In no circumstances would anyone going through what she endured not and fail to end up with some foresight and maturity!

It's entirely fictional, easy to read with an ending that rather inspires the reader to anger, not at the main character, but at society and male dominance that was so prevalent even in the '50's.

The narration was it's saving grace, so, overall, not terrible, but no so great either.

Not Terrible, but not great either

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