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In this unforgettable international bestseller, three women from very different circumstances around the world find their lives intertwined by a single object and discover what connects us - across cultures, across backgrounds, and across borders.
In India, Smita is an untouchable. Desperate to give her daughter an education, she takes her child and flees her small village with nothing but resourcefulness, eventually heading to a temple where she will experience a rebirth.
In Sicily, Giulia works in her father's wig workshop, the last of its kind in Palermo. She washes, bleaches, and dyes the hair provided by the city's hairdressers, which is now in short supply. But when her father is the victim of a serious accident, she discovers that the company's financial situation is dire. Now she must find a way to save her family's livelihood.
In Canada, Sarah is a successful lawyer and twice-divorced mother of three children whose identity is wrapped up in her work. Just as she expects a big promotion, her life is shattered when she's diagnosed with cancer.
A moving novel of hope and renewal, The Braid is a celebration of womanhood and the power of connection and perseverance.
"While the novel presents a romanticized version of globalization, it's unapologetic about its agenda of celebrating the bonds of womanhood...An impeccably crafted love letter to the oft-unseen and ignored work of women across the world." - Kirkus Reviews
"A sense of urgency to learn how the stories will be resolved drives the fast-paced narrative. Each character's intimate perspective elucidates the courage that exists in every woman's life, regardless of age, culture, or station." - Publishers Weekly
"Laetitia Colombani is a master of the art of storytelling." - Le Monde
"The Braid is a beautifully written novel of determination, bravery, and hope. You will remember Smita, Giulia, and Sarah long after you've read their stories." - AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs. Bird
This information about The Braid was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Laetitia Colombani is a screenwriter, director, and actress. She also writes for the theater. La Tresse was published in 2017 in France and under the title The Braid in the UK, U.S.A., and Canada.
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