Tilly Dunnage left her hometown of Dungatar in rural Australia under a black cloud of accusation. Years later Tilly, now a couturier for the Paris fashion houses, returns home to make amends with her mentally unstable mother.
3 Minutes to read
Mid-century Dungatar is a small town, and small towns have long memories. At first she wins over the suspicious locals with her extraordinary dressmaking skills. But when the eccentric townsfolk turn on Tilly for a second time, she decides to teach them a lesson and exact long-overdue revenge.
Tilly’s arrival sparks curiosity and gossip among the townspeople, who are eager to discover the secrets she carries. She sets up a dressmaking business and begins to create stunning and transformative garments for the women of Dungatar, gradually gaining influence and challenging the conservative conventions of the town.
As Tilly immerses herself in the community, she becomes entangled in a web of relationships, including a romantic connection with Teddy McSwiney, a local farmer. She also seeks to uncover the truth about her past, particularly the circumstances surrounding a tragic incident during her childhood, which led to her exile from Dungatar.
Packed with memorable characters, acid humour and luscious clothes, The Dressmaker is an irresistible gothic tale of small-town revenge.