Emma Taylor was an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life. A German born American, she learned quickly how strongly people felt about Germany in the early 1900’s. She had emigrated to America with her parents, two brothers, and sister as a young child. Her years in school taught her to not mention her country of origin. Emma married a charming British man, Ernest Taylor, who worked as an export agent. Not long after their wedding, they are sent to Singapore. Will Emma be able to adapt to life in a foreign country?
Emma’s life story is revealed in flashbacks. Her life and adventures in Singapore, Japan, America, and London are vividly related by year and location. Each experience in these countries matures her, shaping her into a strong willed woman and mother. Along each step of her journey, Emma would work on a tapestry for relaxation. Each one completed served as a reminder of the experiences, life, and her location at the time. Emma’s many personally difficult circumstances do not defeat her, they bolster her fortitude. Emma takes these life lessons and grows. Eventually, Emma’s life returns her to England to settle and raise her family.
Emma is a testimony to hardworking, endurance, and fidelity to your family. The author has based this story upon her great-grandmother’s life. Knowing that Emma isn’t a fictitious character makes the story even more poignant. Emma’s strength and resilience are admirable. She has managed to adapt to her surroundings and overcome life’s difficulties with her dignity intact. Her story is one of inspiration for women.
My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻/5
Emma’s Tapestry by Isobel Blackthorn
Book information
- Purchase link: http://mybook.to/emmastapestry
- Genre: Historical fiction
- Print length: 311 pages
- Age range: This is an adult book but suitable for mature teens
- Trigger warnings: None;
- Amazon Rating: 5
About Emma’s Tapestry
At the dawn of World War Two, German-born nurse Emma Taylor sits by the bedside of a Jewish heiress in London as she reminisces over her dear friend, Oscar Wilde.
As the story of Wilde unravels, so does Emma’s past. What really happened to her husband?
She’s taken back to her days in Singapore on the eve of World War One. To her disappointing marriage to a British export agent, her struggle to fit into colonial life and the need to hide her true identity.
Emma is caught up in history, the highs, the lows, the adventures. A deadly mutiny, terrifying rice riots and a confrontation with the Ku Klux Klan bring home, for all migrants, the fragility of belonging.
Emma’s Tapestry is an imaginative retelling of the remarkable life of the author’s great-grandmother.
Praise for Emma’s Tapestry
“The story is immersive and well-written; and Emma, when facing adversity, is a heroine to admire.” – Janice Ottersberg, Historical Novels Society
“The most exciting and compelling novel I’ve read in years. Truly exceptional.” – Moyra Irving, author of Amelie Trott and the Earth Watchers
“What a special memoir. Isobel Blackthorn has woven a fantastic story…set around true events. If you love books about a strong real existing personality read this one and you won’t regret it.” – Fany Goes English
“When a book has the power to take a reader across continents and time as easily as ‘Emma’s Tapestry’ did me, it proves that Isobel Blackthorn in this instance is a master at her craft….I found this book a compelling read, so compelling I wanted to learn all about Emma there and then.” – Sharon Beyond the Books
“Emma’s Tapestry is such an absolutely beautifully written, immersive story that I was able to lose myself completely into Emma’s world.” – Jera’s Jamboree
“The style of writing lends itself naturally to the historical theme and seamlessly integrates key events in a way that make them accessible and compelling….An inspiring and engrossing read!” – Pickled Thoughts and Pinot
“A brilliantly written book” – Snowphiethebookworm
About the Author
Isobel Blackthorn is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including gripping mysteries and dark psychological thrillers.
The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader’s Favorite book awards. A Prison in the Sun was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the 2021 International Book Awards and the 2020 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. Her short story ‘Nothing to Declare’ was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. Her dark thriller A Legacy of Old Gran Parks won a Raven Award in 2019. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018.
Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel The Unlikely Occultist and the full biography Alice A. Bailey: Life and Legacy.
Isobel carries a lifelong passion for the Canary Islands, Spain, her former home. Five of her novels are set on the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These standalone mystery novels are setting rich and fall into the broad genre of travel fiction.
Isobel has led a rich and interesting life and her stories are as diverse as her experiences, the highs and lows, and the dramas. A life-long campaigner for social justice, Isobel has written, protested and leant her weight to a range of issues including asylum seekers and family violence. A Londoner originally, Isobel currently lives in rural Victoria, Australia.