‘’How could I have known that with the mere fact of having taken two or three steps and crossed the threshold, we were signing the death sentence on our time together and irreparably twisting apart the strands of our future’’ ends the opening chapter and therein Duenas’ turbulent pace complements a rare ability to slowly work a plot without drying the narrative.
Generally, Duenas’ characterization is strong, and the use of real-life historical figures adds an element of depth which will be gratefully received by those who love a great, somewhat realistic historical novel.ĭuenas captures the imagination at once, building a thick air of tension with a masterful first act. Our strong, determined and adaptable protagonist, begins her journey as a timid seamstress and through an intimate first person narrative, we witness a striking evolution from her humble beginnings we see her shake the chains of her simple naiveté and grow into to a strong and refreshing lead character. Sira’s story comes to life slowly through the chapters, and her trials and heartaches are palpably detailed with a subtle tenderness. Against this backdrop, Duenas tells the story of Sira, a young seamstress who’s struggle to forge a new identity pulls her from a modest dressmakers shop in Madrid, to arms dealing in the North African Protectorate into the belly of high society in Tetouan and into the murky interior of the British Intelligence Service. Weighing in at 600 pages of rich, descriptive narrative, the novel sketches a sweeping view of the era, pulling together authentic Moroccan and Spanish perspectives on the Spanish Civil War and WW2. Set first in Madrid, Morocco, then Lisbon, Maria Duenas’ debut novel The Seamstress weaves a fascinating portrait of 1930’s war torn Europe with a sweeping and memorable blend of historical fact and dazzling fiction.
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