Love, death, war and corsetry, from the internationally bestselling author of The Dressmaker, Rosalie Ham, comes MOLLY.
The author of five critically acclaimed novels, Ham offers her readers endlessly entertaining stories of tight-knit communities and small town dynamics, complex family legacies and brave women determined to forge their own paths.
These poignant tales of hope, redemption and resilience are studded with astute observations on human behaviour and societal norms – told with empathy and a deliciously dark humour.
It’s 1914 and Molly Dunnage wants to see change: at home, at work and in underwear. Her burgeoning corsetry business is starting to take off, thanks to some high-profile supporters.
She’s marching with Melbourne’s suffragists for better conditions for women everywhere. And her family – her eccentric, confounding, adored father and aunt – are turning their minds to country retirement.
But as the clouds of war gather and an ominous figure starts skulking in the shadows of her life, Molly’s dreams start to falter. Then, when true love drops out of the sky and into her arms, her hopes for her life and the world are entirely upended…
With the dark humour, richly detailed settings and vividly drawn characters we’ve come to expect from Rosalie Ham, this prequel to the international bestseller The Dressmaker is an unforgettable story of hopes lost, love found – and corsets loosened.
Rosalie Ham is the author of The Dressmaker, Summer at Mount Hope, There Should be More Dancing, The Year of the Farmer and The Dressmaker’s Secret. Rosalie was born and raised in Jerilderie, NSW and now lives in Melbourne. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and teaches literature.
In 2000, Rosalie published her debut novel The Dressmaker, loosely inspired by her mother, a talented seamstress, and her experience growing up in a small country town of 800 people. This richly imagined story of love and revenge became runaway bestseller, adored by readers for its glorious mix of haute couture fashion, drama and eccentric characters.
In 2015, Jocelyn Moorhouse’s award-winning and star-studded adaptation was a box office sensation. The producer, Sue Maslin, also grew up in Jerilderie, and she and Rosalie remain friends to this day. In 2020, The Dressmaker’s Secret was published on the 20th anniversary of The Dressmaker.
MOLLY is published by Pan MacMillan Australia (Picador) and is available from all leading book sellers including QBD Books.
Image: MOLLY – courtesy of Pan MacMillan Australia