The World's Fair Quilt - (ELM Creek Quilts) by Jennifer Chiaverini

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Return to Elm Creek Manor with a heartfelt celebration of quilting, family, community, and history from from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini.

As Sylvia Bergstrom Compson contends with financial setbacks at Elm Creek Quilt Camp, her friend and colleague Summer Sullivan, curator of the Waterford Historical Society's quilt gallery, asks a special favor. When Sylvia and her elder sister were teenagers, they entered a quilt in the Sears National Quilt Contest for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition. The unprecedented competition offered its 25,000 participants the opportunity for artistic expression, the thrill of competition, a tantalizing grand prize, and fame, with the finalists' quilts prominently displayed at the Chicago World's Fair. If Sylvia lent the Bergstrom sisters' World's Fair Quilt to Summer's exhibit, it would illuminate a forgotten chapter of women's history during the difficult years of the Great Depression.

Sylvia grants Summer's request, but with misgivings. Neglected in the attic for decades, the fragile antique requires careful cleaning and repair--and not all of the memories it evokes are pleasant. Threads of fierce rivalry were woven into the fabric of the sisters' relationship. Yet as their masterpiece took shape, the reluctant partners discovered in each other an artistic kindred spirit, and perhaps even a friend--until a troubling secret threatened to shatter their newfound sisterhood.

Review Quotes

"The novel's pastoral details, such as the delivery by wagon of homemade apple cider to workers building a farm stand, evoke a simpler time of camaraderie and cooperation between neighbors, and this sense of tight-knit community blends seamlessly with the historical details and enriching quilt lore. Series fans and newcomers alike will be glad to be in Sylvia's company." -- Publishers Weekly

"Chiaverini's twenty-second Elm Creek Quilts novel...is like a strong cup of tea--cozy yet hard-hitting--and will appeal to current fans and new readers alike." -- Booklist on The Museum of Lost Quilts

"Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first novel in her extensive Elm Creek Quilts series, Chiaverini's latest installment is rich with detail...telling the tale of a particular woman's motivation to design and craft a particular quilt. Whether inspired by love or grief, the resulting artwork is described with astonishing attention to design, workmanship, and symbolism. Chiaverini also explores how the practice of her craft transforms each woman's emotional life, each stitch bringing her closer to a sense of peace... A warm portrait of women bound by craft--perfect for fireside reading." -- Kirkus Reviews on The Christmas Boutique

"Enchanting.... The host of different characters offer their own points of view to enrich this heartwarming tale of friendships explored and history retold." -- New York Journal of Books on The Christmas Boutique

"This is an outstanding series of novels about a fascinating craft. Quilting, in the hands of Chiaverini, allows us to explore human relationships in all their complexity." -- Booklist on the Elm Creek Quilts series

"Jennifer Chiaverini has made quite a name for herself with her bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series. From the Civil War to the roaring '20s to contemporary settings, these novels have offered suspense, romance and, at times, in-depth looks into the social, political and cultural differences that helped shape a nation." -- BookPage on the Elm Creek Quilts series