The Funeral Dress - by Susan Gregg Gilmore (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"A rare and wonderful glimpse into lives and friendships among blue-collar working women in America."--Fannie Flagg, New York Times bestselling author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

From the author of The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove, a deeply touching Southern novel filled with struggle and hope

Emmalee Bullard is on her own with a new baby. She has no husband, no running water in her house, no know-how about caring for an infant, and no help from her cruel father, who's furious she got herself into this situation. Only Leona Lane, the older seamstress who sat beside her sewing collars on the neighboring machine at the local shirt factory, has befriended her. Much to Emmalee's wonder, Leona even offers her a place to live. But before Emmalee can jump at the chance for a better life, Leona is in a terrible accident, and her life is lost, along with Emmalee's chance for escape.

Emmalee decides that since nothing in Leona's closet is nice enough to wear for eternity, she'll make Leona's burying dress herself, though there are plenty of people who don't think someone who has so obviously sinned should design a dress for an upstanding woman--or care for a child on her own. While relatives scheme to get custody of her baby and the local church tries to keep her away from Leona's funeral, Emmalee struggles to do what is right for her daughter and to honor Leona the best way she can, finding unlikely support among an indomitable group of seamstresses and the town's funeral director. In this moving tale exploring Southern spirit, camaraderie among working women, and the power of compassion, a young mother compels a town to become a community with every stitch.

Review Quotes

"I rarely describe a book as being 'beautiful' but The Funeral Dress really is just that. It's beautiful. It hits you hard, builds you up, and hugs your soul."--BookRiot

"With The Funeral Dress, Gilmore--a former Nashville resident who now lives in Chattanooga--does her finest work to date, perfectly capturing the rhythm and music of the small-town Southern vernacular... This is a simple, quiet story about family ties, life's disappointments, the daily struggle it takes to persevere, and the ways women support one another when times are tough, especially in the hard work of child-rearing. It's also a story about gifts: those Emmalee discovers in herself and those--like compassion and comfort--that her pain unexpectedly reveals in others."--Chapter16

"A tender, graceful novel that addresses questions of class and social isolation . . . Gilmore imbues her story with a deep compassion for the lives of the working poor while offering a vivid picture of factory life and the sense of community it inspired among its workers."--Booklist

"A young woman in Appalachia battles poverty, discrimination and her own insecurity in this moving and memorable novel. . . . A revelatory novel that offers an evocative account of the lives of Appalachian working women."--Kirkus Reviews

"Beloved writer Susan Gregg Gilmore takes a huge leap forward with her new novel The Funeral Dress--that rare book which is not only a book club natural and a page-turning 'great read, ' but a stunning, serious literary work which ought to be up for every award out there. Its themes of rural poverty, class, and working women's hard lives are balanced by the bonds of community and love. The Funeral Dress is a lovely, memorable novel. So go ahead and buy two copies--one for yourself, and one for your best friend."--Lee Smith, author of Mrs. Darcy and the Blue-Eyed Stranger

"This story of a young female textile worker encountering adversity in a small southern town reveals the remarkable power of friendship, community, and the gift of sewing. A vivid tribute to the efforts of a courageous band of sisters."--Rachel Simon, author of The Story Of Beautiful Girl and Riding The Bus With My Sister

"Susan Gregg Gilmore's The Funeral Dress is a rare and wonderful glimpse into lives and friendships among blue collar working women in America."--Fannie Flagg, author of Can't Wait to Get to Heaven

About the Author

Susan Gregg Gilmore is the author of the novels Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen and The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove. She has written for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Los Angeles Times and the Christian Science Monitor. Born in Nashville, she lives in Tennessee with her husband and three daughters.