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A Remarkable Woman
By Jules Van Mil
Published by Pan MacMillan Australia
ISBN 9781760988449
Although this is a novel, I would not be surprised if this was based or inspired on a true story.
Set in the aftermath and suffering of the Second World War, a young talented French woman, Avril Montdidier is determined to have a successful life.
Living in the city of Tours in the Loire Valley, Avril has learned to be a fine seamstress by her mother, a couturier and haberdashery business owner.
The story begins when Avril returns from Paris where she was an apprentice at Christian Dior, to her hometown Tours from Paris to marry her childhood sweetheart, now her fiancé. Just as we may think this is going to be about her life living in the beautiful chateau with her husband there’s a twist in the tale. One of several.
Things don’t go according to plan. Her fiancé and future mother-in-law unexpectedly disappear on an urgent visit to their solicitor in Paris.
Avril is just 19 years old and she must now face a life with a baby and the missing father and grandmother. She goes in search of her fiancé and finds out that both he and his mother were abducted by the remaining Nazis while driving into Paris….
Avril’s aunt and uncle live in Melbourne and they invite her to stay with them, giving her the opportunity to make a fresh start. Onboard the ship to Melbourne she becomes friends with some passengers who become her life long friends and are integral to the story.
Avril soon discovers that all is not well with her aunt and uncle who own one of the most highly regarded restaurants in Melbourne’s Paris End. She must leave their home if she is to be safe.
As she leaves their home and her job, this opens up a whole new world for Avril as a chance meeting leads her to taking up a temporary role of governess, to the five young children on Monaghan Station in outback Queensland. Here she finds love with the eldest son, Tim, but it’s fraught with obstacles and while the Monaghan family adores Avril she stays focused on her goal to work in fashion and have her own fashion house.
Back in Melbourne she overcomes the challenges of the day, such as a not being able to rent premises on her own, without a husband or male to sign a lease, or at least stand guarantor, but this does not stop her from creating a fabulous life.
In this heartwarming novel the issues of domestic violence and abuse are featured, as are prejudices at the times that still continue. It also shows what can be achieved with clear focus and determination. There is a lot more to this book than just a good novel. The writing style is quite easy to read even with the intriguing intertwined web of stories.
I hope you will enjoy treading it as much as I did. To purchase a copy click on one of the links below.
The author, Jules Van Mil loves the fashion industry. She has modelled for the McGann Agency, in fashion parades for David Jones, fashion catalogues for Myer and making television commercials. However, she was always happier designing clothes rather than modelling them.
She has a teaching degree and started her career as a primary school teacher. She also studied fashion and worked as the assistant designer for a women's wear label in Sydney during the 1980s. She has taught fashion at a tertiary level. Today, she runs fashion workshops and does casual teaching in Sydney.
This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee
