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Dressmaker #.5
Molly
It's 1914 and Molly Dunnage wants to see 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 begin 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.
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 begin 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.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2024
123 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Rosalie Ham
8books219followersRosalie Ham was born, and raised in Jerilderie, NSW, Australia. She completed her secondary education at St Margaret's School, Berwick in 1972. After travelling and working at a variety of jobs (including aged care) for most of her twenties, Rosalie completed a Bachelor of Education majoring in Drama and Literature (Deakin University, 1989), and achieved a Master of Arts, Creative Writing (RMIT, Melbourne) in 2007. Rosalie lives in Brunswick, Melbourne, and when she is not writing, Rosalie teaches literature. Her novels have sold over 50,000 copies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 28, 2024
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
by is the entertaining prequel to the best selling novel and can easily be read as a standalone.
The main themes of the story are corsetry and women’s rights and the setting is Melbourne, 1914. Molly Dunnage is a corset designer and lives with her father and her Aunt in poverty, she’s working in a corsetry factory. Molly is hoping for her own corsetry business to take off but war is looming. Our protagonist is a modern woman and is marching with the Melbourne suffragists for better conditions for women.
The story starts off a slow burn but I found the pace soon sped up, it was absolutely intriguing reading about corsetry in that era and the family relationships were a delight. There’s a love story woven into the story that is heartbreaking.
The characters are quirky and well developed, I really adored Molly’s family.
If you love historical fiction and feminism this humorous and sometimes dark story will resonate with you. I’m now determined to read The Dressmaker next month to see what happens next to Molly and her daughter.
Publication Date 29 October 2024
Publisher Imprint Picador
A huge thanks to the fabulous team Macmillan Australia for a copy of the book.
by is the entertaining prequel to the best selling novel and can easily be read as a standalone.
The main themes of the story are corsetry and women’s rights and the setting is Melbourne, 1914. Molly Dunnage is a corset designer and lives with her father and her Aunt in poverty, she’s working in a corsetry factory. Molly is hoping for her own corsetry business to take off but war is looming. Our protagonist is a modern woman and is marching with the Melbourne suffragists for better conditions for women.
The story starts off a slow burn but I found the pace soon sped up, it was absolutely intriguing reading about corsetry in that era and the family relationships were a delight. There’s a love story woven into the story that is heartbreaking.
The characters are quirky and well developed, I really adored Molly’s family.
If you love historical fiction and feminism this humorous and sometimes dark story will resonate with you. I’m now determined to read The Dressmaker next month to see what happens next to Molly and her daughter.
Publication Date 29 October 2024
Publisher Imprint Picador
A huge thanks to the fabulous team Macmillan Australia for a copy of the book.
January 3, 2025
Rosalie Ham is one of my favourite authors, I’ll read anything she writes. She’s thoughtful and fun, there’s always humour and always impending danger or ruin in store for her characters. This is a prequel or backstory to her novel The Dressmaker, one of my all time faves. It’s a bunch of fun. A story of hardship, struggles and a hefty dose if revenge. Great fun.
January 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
March 10, 2025
What a prequel... I feel for Molly, it's a very good read. So much strength in a tiny girl, she did her best...
Read
October 29, 2024From the opening line I was absolutely all-in on this book! Molly is such a great character and I was desperate to be a part of her life –especially as she set about changing things one corset at a time. She is such a stark reminder that it took women like her -not particularly influential, not rich, not in positions of power, women who just decided that enough was enough –demanding change that cascaded out through the decades. Thank God for Molly and the women like her! And what a delightful contradiction she presents –the woman fighting for freedom while making corsets. Brilliant.
There is such a sense of place and time in this novel. You can smell the streets, hear the noise of the rattling carts on cobblestone, feel the constriction of the women –both physical and emotional. All the while, with war casting its shadows and the feelings of fear and excitement that provoked. I feel like I got to be friends with Molly, met her crazy aunt and uncle, joined her on marches, walked the streets she walks. Everything about this book feels so real.
This book does what every good prequel does � it stands alone while being in the same world and absolutely makes you want to read The Dressmaker, for the first time or the fifth time!
- Kristen
There is such a sense of place and time in this novel. You can smell the streets, hear the noise of the rattling carts on cobblestone, feel the constriction of the women –both physical and emotional. All the while, with war casting its shadows and the feelings of fear and excitement that provoked. I feel like I got to be friends with Molly, met her crazy aunt and uncle, joined her on marches, walked the streets she walks. Everything about this book feels so real.
This book does what every good prequel does � it stands alone while being in the same world and absolutely makes you want to read The Dressmaker, for the first time or the fifth time!
- Kristen
January 11, 2025
A gripping blend of politics, couture, war, universal suffrage, creativity and unionism.
April 23, 2025
3.5�
I love the Dressmaker series, so really enjoyed this backstory. It's strange reading a book already knowing the character arc, but knowing the character has no clue yet. A hopeful but very sad story.
I love the Dressmaker series, so really enjoyed this backstory. It's strange reading a book already knowing the character arc, but knowing the character has no clue yet. A hopeful but very sad story.
February 14, 2025
I had loved Rosalie Ham’s previous novels so was excited for Molly. Perhaps it is more a reflection on my brain capacity at the start of a school year but for the first half of the story I had no idea what was going on or who all the characters were. The second half was an improvement with Molly and Leander’s love story but 3 stars was probably on the generous side.
November 28, 2024
I guess when you’re into a good thing, stick with it. The Dressmaker was so good, so was the film, and even Hope St was good. This feels like it’s a film script waiting to happen, replete with already made quirky Australian characters. The politics is sound (feminist unionist) but so didactic and 2 dimensional. I didn’t get very far before I decided I wanted something more nuanced.
January 2, 2025
My first book for 2025 is by one of Australian best-loved authors � Rosalie Ham, who brought us in 2000, which was made into in 2015 where the real star of the show was who made the dresses for the film. Ham went on to write a sequel, in 2020, and now we have the prequel � Molly.
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.
Ham's Gothic blend of feisty females, satire and historical detail was just what I wanted after a run of Serious Books. By the end of the novel Molly is the mother of Tilly Dunnage who in the next book goes on to be the dressmaker who returns to the fictional town of Dungatar to wreak her revenge. Like the rest of the books in the series, Molly's themes showcase malice, vanity, hypocrisy and bigotry but � as was historically accurate for the pre WW1 era in which it is set � Molly also explores the wasted talent of working class people, condemned to lives of poverty and disadvantage.
In Molly, Ham shows that small mindedness isn't confined to small towns. A dedicated activist for women's rights, Molly is the target of an obnoxious conservative called Mrs Sidebottom and also of Mr Addler, her boss at the corsetry factory who makes her life a misery. A lowlife called Evan Pettyman is there to represent the way even mediocre men can survive and prosper, but the wealthy have a mean streak too, as we can see in the character of Alethea Pocknall who offers false hope when she inherits her father's factory.
It is the wealthy who give Molly (and the author) a chance to flaunt haute couture. Talking about this novel with a friend yesterday, it was nostalgic memories of our mothers wearing 1950s fashion that made us love The Dressmaker because we could imagine the dresses that were described in lush detail. But while, yes, feminists can rejoice in Molly's quest to redesign ladies undergarments to allow freedom of movement, the (rather long) descriptions of corsetry never quite worked for me because I could not really imagine their designs or appearance. When I think of corsets, I think of the film of Gone with The Wind and Mammy lacing Scarlett O'Hara into a gruesome concoction, and how women ever managed to dance wearing them I do not know. My generation of feminists but also my mother would not have dreamed of wearing any such thing or variation of it. Feminists of the seventies and women who had serious work to do in WW2 are/were not interested in the idea of shaping our bodies to suit a male gaze, not at all.
But although I failed #Fashion101 I was interested in the dresses that transform their wearers due to the shaping that Molly's creations allow.
Stuck in a factory where she is bullied daily by Mr Addler, Molly dreams of a career in design. She wants to liberate women and herself, and from her physical confrontations with others at the demonstrations she attends, she knows that freedom of movement is critical.
To read the rest of my review please visit
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.
Ham's Gothic blend of feisty females, satire and historical detail was just what I wanted after a run of Serious Books. By the end of the novel Molly is the mother of Tilly Dunnage who in the next book goes on to be the dressmaker who returns to the fictional town of Dungatar to wreak her revenge. Like the rest of the books in the series, Molly's themes showcase malice, vanity, hypocrisy and bigotry but � as was historically accurate for the pre WW1 era in which it is set � Molly also explores the wasted talent of working class people, condemned to lives of poverty and disadvantage.
In Molly, Ham shows that small mindedness isn't confined to small towns. A dedicated activist for women's rights, Molly is the target of an obnoxious conservative called Mrs Sidebottom and also of Mr Addler, her boss at the corsetry factory who makes her life a misery. A lowlife called Evan Pettyman is there to represent the way even mediocre men can survive and prosper, but the wealthy have a mean streak too, as we can see in the character of Alethea Pocknall who offers false hope when she inherits her father's factory.
It is the wealthy who give Molly (and the author) a chance to flaunt haute couture. Talking about this novel with a friend yesterday, it was nostalgic memories of our mothers wearing 1950s fashion that made us love The Dressmaker because we could imagine the dresses that were described in lush detail. But while, yes, feminists can rejoice in Molly's quest to redesign ladies undergarments to allow freedom of movement, the (rather long) descriptions of corsetry never quite worked for me because I could not really imagine their designs or appearance. When I think of corsets, I think of the film of Gone with The Wind and Mammy lacing Scarlett O'Hara into a gruesome concoction, and how women ever managed to dance wearing them I do not know. My generation of feminists but also my mother would not have dreamed of wearing any such thing or variation of it. Feminists of the seventies and women who had serious work to do in WW2 are/were not interested in the idea of shaping our bodies to suit a male gaze, not at all.
But although I failed #Fashion101 I was interested in the dresses that transform their wearers due to the shaping that Molly's creations allow.
Stuck in a factory where she is bullied daily by Mr Addler, Molly dreams of a career in design. She wants to liberate women and herself, and from her physical confrontations with others at the demonstrations she attends, she knows that freedom of movement is critical.
To read the rest of my review please visit
April 1, 2025
I loved this read. It's a bit of a slow burn at the start but it brings to life a couple of things that resonated with me. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) yet to be recognised at the time this book is referred to is acknowledged by Molly and Gladys when the girls are heading out to campaign for women's rights.
Gladys and Molly have been great friends from their school days. Gladys has had a terrible start to life and has ended up at the Sidebottom’s, the wife of the afflicted war survivor who hasn't welcomed her husband back home due to his drinking, rather she has left him to languish in the open nearby. Gladys remembers her own beginnings and the fear imposed from such a man, her father who suffered from the same horrors. Mrs Sidebottom has Gladys working at a mattress factory and demanding board from her. Gladys, unlike Molly, has the simple desire of marrying well, a secure and safe life.
The Dunnages; Aunt April, August and daughter Molly with the exception of their political views and activities are pretty much similar to families of the time, although breaking with tradition Aunt April and Molly are beginning to push the boundaries regarding their mode of dress which gives their neighbours some angst. August was of particular interest to me, a colourful man who recognises Molly's abilities, doesn't rebuke her or Aunt April for their political activities, is a wonderful gardener and a ceramicist for which I identified with being one myself and with the effects of the paints, mediums he used, “making a fine end with his 《lips� staining them yellow�, an action even today would not be advisable.
Molly's start into her working life of corsetry has come about by her father, the family have little income, both he and April are not well enough to work. Molly had organised an interview at an exclusive dressmaker’s atelier but this didn't work out. She reluctantly had to take on the work at the factory where she considered was in a “slum� area even though her own home was a poor cottage (today in the very area heritage houses would fetch $A1,800,000.00 an apartment $A700,000.00).
Factory life is what one would imagine of the times, long hours, little pay and no protection from odious bosses for which the girls have to deal with, particularly outspoken Molly. Her talent is obvious but this isn't recognised, rather, she is given the hardest jobs. However, she comes to the attention of the owner's daughter, Alathea, which does a lot to improve Molly's outlook for her future dreams.
With a twist of fate after Alathea's father dies leaving her the factory a usurper makes claims against the Will. Finally, Alathea is not true to her word leaving Molly bereft. Her personal life is also in tatters for which the usurper pushes his unwanted attention towards her, which makes matters even worse and leaving Molly no option but to make drastic changes to her life.
Gladys and Molly have been great friends from their school days. Gladys has had a terrible start to life and has ended up at the Sidebottom’s, the wife of the afflicted war survivor who hasn't welcomed her husband back home due to his drinking, rather she has left him to languish in the open nearby. Gladys remembers her own beginnings and the fear imposed from such a man, her father who suffered from the same horrors. Mrs Sidebottom has Gladys working at a mattress factory and demanding board from her. Gladys, unlike Molly, has the simple desire of marrying well, a secure and safe life.
The Dunnages; Aunt April, August and daughter Molly with the exception of their political views and activities are pretty much similar to families of the time, although breaking with tradition Aunt April and Molly are beginning to push the boundaries regarding their mode of dress which gives their neighbours some angst. August was of particular interest to me, a colourful man who recognises Molly's abilities, doesn't rebuke her or Aunt April for their political activities, is a wonderful gardener and a ceramicist for which I identified with being one myself and with the effects of the paints, mediums he used, “making a fine end with his 《lips� staining them yellow�, an action even today would not be advisable.
Molly's start into her working life of corsetry has come about by her father, the family have little income, both he and April are not well enough to work. Molly had organised an interview at an exclusive dressmaker’s atelier but this didn't work out. She reluctantly had to take on the work at the factory where she considered was in a “slum� area even though her own home was a poor cottage (today in the very area heritage houses would fetch $A1,800,000.00 an apartment $A700,000.00).
Factory life is what one would imagine of the times, long hours, little pay and no protection from odious bosses for which the girls have to deal with, particularly outspoken Molly. Her talent is obvious but this isn't recognised, rather, she is given the hardest jobs. However, she comes to the attention of the owner's daughter, Alathea, which does a lot to improve Molly's outlook for her future dreams.
With a twist of fate after Alathea's father dies leaving her the factory a usurper makes claims against the Will. Finally, Alathea is not true to her word leaving Molly bereft. Her personal life is also in tatters for which the usurper pushes his unwanted attention towards her, which makes matters even worse and leaving Molly no option but to make drastic changes to her life.
January 6, 2025
‘Molly Dunnage started 1914 with a stint in the city watchhouse.�
Okay, so I watched the film adaptation of ‘The Dressmaker� and immediately read the novel. I was fortunate enough to see the stunning Dressmaker Costume Exhibition when it was in Canberra in 2019, and (naturally) read ‘The Dressmaker’s Secret� when it was released. And all of this made me keen to know a bit more about Tilly’s mother, Molly.
This novel opens in 1914, with Molly marching with Melbourne’s suffragists. While Molly is seeking better conditions for women, including more public toilets, she also has her own dream of travelling to Paris. Molly lives with her father August and her Aunt April in Carlton and works in a factory making corsetry. Molly had a job lined up as a shop assistant in Miss Archambeau’s exclusive dressmaker’s atelier � but the day before Molly was to start work, Miss Archambeau died. Yes, it is an omen.
But in 1914, war is on the horizon. Molly is now aged 24. Her father is ill, her aunt dabbles in science, and her best friend Gladys dreams of marriage. Molly dreams of revolutionising corsetry and has some high-profile supporters. Will she realise her dream?
I’ll stop there rather than spoil your appreciation of Molly’s journey from Carlton to Dungatar. If you’ve read ‘The Dressmaker�, you know how it ends. Dark humour and memorable characters, heartbreak and tragedy all feature to make this novel unputdownable.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Okay, so I watched the film adaptation of ‘The Dressmaker� and immediately read the novel. I was fortunate enough to see the stunning Dressmaker Costume Exhibition when it was in Canberra in 2019, and (naturally) read ‘The Dressmaker’s Secret� when it was released. And all of this made me keen to know a bit more about Tilly’s mother, Molly.
This novel opens in 1914, with Molly marching with Melbourne’s suffragists. While Molly is seeking better conditions for women, including more public toilets, she also has her own dream of travelling to Paris. Molly lives with her father August and her Aunt April in Carlton and works in a factory making corsetry. Molly had a job lined up as a shop assistant in Miss Archambeau’s exclusive dressmaker’s atelier � but the day before Molly was to start work, Miss Archambeau died. Yes, it is an omen.
But in 1914, war is on the horizon. Molly is now aged 24. Her father is ill, her aunt dabbles in science, and her best friend Gladys dreams of marriage. Molly dreams of revolutionising corsetry and has some high-profile supporters. Will she realise her dream?
I’ll stop there rather than spoil your appreciation of Molly’s journey from Carlton to Dungatar. If you’ve read ‘The Dressmaker�, you know how it ends. Dark humour and memorable characters, heartbreak and tragedy all feature to make this novel unputdownable.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
March 16, 2025
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, and she's marching with Melbourne's suffragists for better conditions for women everywhere. As the clouds of war gather and an ominous figure starts skulking in the shadows of her life, Molly's dreams begin to falter.
I had watched The Dressmaker movie, but I hadn’t read the book yet so I had the opportunity to read this one with somewhat fresh eyes.
Knowing where Molly’s life would end up (because of The Dressmaker) didn’t make this story less interesting for me. It was heartbreaking to see her battling a lot of things society had expected of her, and even more so seeing her losing a lot of them. Molly’s resilience and determination were what kept me hooked till the end.
I really enjoyed the fashion elements, and the female ‘rebellion� aspect via undergarments. By the end of the book, Molly had become a dear character to me, and I was left with melancholy.
(Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
I had watched The Dressmaker movie, but I hadn’t read the book yet so I had the opportunity to read this one with somewhat fresh eyes.
Knowing where Molly’s life would end up (because of The Dressmaker) didn’t make this story less interesting for me. It was heartbreaking to see her battling a lot of things society had expected of her, and even more so seeing her losing a lot of them. Molly’s resilience and determination were what kept me hooked till the end.
I really enjoyed the fashion elements, and the female ‘rebellion� aspect via undergarments. By the end of the book, Molly had become a dear character to me, and I was left with melancholy.
(Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
March 1, 2025
I found the storytelling a bit jerky, and not always plausible. The focus is very much on conveying the characters of the main protagonists, which I felt In places was to the detriment of the storytelling. It also annoyed me that the author was referring to American birds (barred owl and screech owl only occur in the Americas). We’ve got our own owls and other night birds in Australia, there’s no need to divert to America for the story line. And were head torches really that common in 1920? They could be carbide lamp but how likely would it be that someone like Aunt April would have one? Similarly, the Thermos bottle was only invented in 1904, would a family like the Dunnages have one already?
December 13, 2024
Very dark humour.
This "Dressmaker" prequel follows the ups (very few) and downs (there are many) of Molly Dunnage leading to her arrival in Dungatar. Her hopes of a brilliant career in lingerie in Melbourne and Paris are dashed as scoundrels abound, and her suffrage protests and love life are overtaken by the First World War. It is only when all seems lost that "Molly" lets rip with a riotous romp of events. Not only does Molly end up in Dungatar, but so too do Constable/Sargeant Farrat and Evan Pettyman.
Myrtle (not yet Tilly) is one year old as the story ends so I guess these events leave room for another novel that will sit between "Molly" and "The Dressmaker".
This "Dressmaker" prequel follows the ups (very few) and downs (there are many) of Molly Dunnage leading to her arrival in Dungatar. Her hopes of a brilliant career in lingerie in Melbourne and Paris are dashed as scoundrels abound, and her suffrage protests and love life are overtaken by the First World War. It is only when all seems lost that "Molly" lets rip with a riotous romp of events. Not only does Molly end up in Dungatar, but so too do Constable/Sargeant Farrat and Evan Pettyman.
Myrtle (not yet Tilly) is one year old as the story ends so I guess these events leave room for another novel that will sit between "Molly" and "The Dressmaker".
November 7, 2024
Molly by Rosalie Ham is the new prequel to The Dressmaker 👗 which was famously made into a movie 🎬 🎞 🎥.
The Dressmaker's Secret was also part of this series.
To read in order you'd read The Dressmaker first, then The Dressmaker's Secret which was the sequel to The Dressmaker.
Although, you could just read Molly as stand alone.
There's a few different characters and some from the past in Molly.
Once again about a small town, suffrages and women's rights.
Molly focuses more on Corsetry than just fashion.
This was a very enjoyable, old fashioned easy to read book.
The Dressmaker's Secret was also part of this series.
To read in order you'd read The Dressmaker first, then The Dressmaker's Secret which was the sequel to The Dressmaker.
Although, you could just read Molly as stand alone.
There's a few different characters and some from the past in Molly.
Once again about a small town, suffrages and women's rights.
Molly focuses more on Corsetry than just fashion.
This was a very enjoyable, old fashioned easy to read book.
December 2, 2024
The Dressmaker was the best, this is a good yarn, easy. romantic, feisty women, Molly in the end prepared to give it up for love. The most interesting element was the development of women's underwear, from tightly constrained corsets to the 'breast harness' (demeaning); 'breast support'. Brassiere was unacceptable as it was for modesty only, did not offer any support. And the other intersting element was business swindles and how they were perpetrated.........pay by chq, then remove your money from the account before the chq was cleared.
December 9, 2024
A delightful prequel. The quirky cast including Molly her father and aunt and a rag tag bunch of odd bods, some judgemental, some quite special is fun and I quickly came to enjoy their foibles.
I think Ham has it in for her best characters though as they always seem to have a tough time despite being heroically good and interesting, strong people.
I really enjoyed the roller coaster of emotions and to follow such lovely cast though the gritty travails of just pre WW1 Melbourne is an experience I highly recommend.
I think Ham has it in for her best characters though as they always seem to have a tough time despite being heroically good and interesting, strong people.
I really enjoyed the roller coaster of emotions and to follow such lovely cast though the gritty travails of just pre WW1 Melbourne is an experience I highly recommend.
December 29, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed the first 4/5ths of this book. There was so much more to the ending - although I do acknowledge it is a prequel to the Dressmaker. Ham’s character creation is phenomenal - the words ‘odious� and ‘conniving� are the descriptors that come to mind when considering some of the less desirable characters. Her style is very similar to Pop Williams - which maybe in part because of the similarities in the eras in which the stories take place. Great stories, with strong female characters that highlight the struggle for women and how much there is yet to be done.
March 10, 2025
Molly is the prequel to the best selling novel "The Dressmaker", but can easily be read as a standalone novel.
Set in Melbourne in 1914, Molly lives with her eccentric and much adored father and aunt in near poverty. She's desperate for change at home, at work, and in women's underwear design. She has a couple of high profile clients supporting her corsetry business, but as war looms, she worties about her future.
This is a story of politics, unionism, creativity, love and family. Molly is a delightful protagonist, full of hope, strength and verve.
Set in Melbourne in 1914, Molly lives with her eccentric and much adored father and aunt in near poverty. She's desperate for change at home, at work, and in women's underwear design. She has a couple of high profile clients supporting her corsetry business, but as war looms, she worties about her future.
This is a story of politics, unionism, creativity, love and family. Molly is a delightful protagonist, full of hope, strength and verve.
April 4, 2025
I had so many emotions in this book! I was invested in the characters from the beginning and I found myself cheering “Go Molly!� as she faced endless challenges. I loved the contrasts between the privileged and the paupers, and the highlighting of self taught skills, business opportunities and fashion. Definitely read this book if you enjoyed The Dressmaker- and I’m glad to see Molly published many years later. I also recognise some links between the two books. 5/5 for this read- I loved it and couldn’t put it down!
December 12, 2024
3.5 stars. A satisfying backstory for Molly (mother of Tilly from The Dressmaker). The Dunnages were just as shunned in 1914 Melbourne as they were later. Molly's talent for corsetry design is taken advantage of in a factory. The historical context of the suffragette movement and onset of WW1 are seamlessly integrated into the story. Familiar characters appear for those who have read the other stories. A nice paced read.
December 16, 2024
This prequel to The Dressmaker is set in 1914 Melbourne. Molly Dunnage is working in a factory, while trying to set up a corsetry business and marching with the suffragettes. She lives with her father and Aunt, and they are shunned by their neighbours.
There are a lot of interesting characters, and a love interest for Molly as war beckons.
Challenging times are captured well. It will make you want to go and re-read The Dressmaker.
There are a lot of interesting characters, and a love interest for Molly as war beckons.
Challenging times are captured well. It will make you want to go and re-read The Dressmaker.
December 31, 2024
I enjoyed the setting around Melbourne as the reality of war encroached on society. Molly is not quite a suffragette, but she campaigns for women’s rights, and is an admirer of Vida Goldstein. The nefarious character of Evan Pettyman lurks in the background, and there is a sense of dread that’s Molly’s hopes and dreams will be thwarted.
The story is not as farcical or well developed as The Dressmaker, but intriguing nevertheless.
The story is not as farcical or well developed as The Dressmaker, but intriguing nevertheless.
February 8, 2025
Slow start - I almost quit - but I stayed for the historical look at Australian suffragettes and Vida Goldstein - Note to self read up more on her? The book paced up at the end and finished well. Womens rights have improved since those days but the themes are still evident- weak lazy oppressive entitled men in charge.
I don't see why Leander and Molly didn't just marry asap to change her status even if he thought he would not come back from The war. All the more reason to do so.
I don't see why Leander and Molly didn't just marry asap to change her status even if he thought he would not come back from The war. All the more reason to do so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2025
Stepping back in time from The Dressmaker, we meet young Mollie Dunich, starting out as a corset maker in Melbourne. However, the story is so much more than a chronicle of your life. We are also treated to a close look at the treatment of women at this time and the struggles of the suffrage movement. A image of Judy Davis in my mind (from the film) made this book even more delightful. Highly recommended.
March 17, 2025
While not as strong a novel as The Dressmaker, it works phenomenally well as a prequel.
Rarely have I felt such sadness and rage reading about seemingly innocuous events; knowing how Molly's story ends makes this such a heartbreaking read. I was constantly feeling emotionally overwhelmed and unable to process what I was reading and having to put the book down feeling but having to quickly pick it back up because I felt compelled to keep reading, to bear witness to the Dunnages' story.
Rarely have I felt such sadness and rage reading about seemingly innocuous events; knowing how Molly's story ends makes this such a heartbreaking read. I was constantly feeling emotionally overwhelmed and unable to process what I was reading and having to put the book down feeling but having to quickly pick it back up because I felt compelled to keep reading, to bear witness to the Dunnages' story.
December 31, 2024
Well this book caught my eye purely as Molly was a bit of a crazy one in The Dressmaker. Going to the history of the time it is set it really does give a good back story and also a good grasp on the history of the period. I throughly enjoyed this and would read the whole series over with this context helping to pull it all together.
January 1, 2025
A charming, heartfelt and delightfully quirky story. Molly is an ambitious and talented young women, championing women's rights in the early 1900's Melbourne. Filled with eccentric and loveable characters, themes of family, love and hope. The prequel to 'The Dressmaker' - this is my book of the year!
Read by Juz
Read by Juz
January 5, 2025
This was a disappointing read. The characters didn’t make sense. The author told us that the whole family were outcasts but there was no reason for them to all be despised and treated like untouchables. I didn’t really understand the main plot involving the business, either. To top it all off, it was miserable. You knew that it was going to end badly.
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