Claire Lavignon-Hughes

The reader is invited to discover the tribulations of Sergeant Major Louis Batissard, the son of Alexandrine, who is the heroine of the prequel OAncestral SilkO. Saved from the fire by Blanche, a collection of over 200 letters written to his beloved parents and his sister Cecile, will draw you into his daily life and invite you to share his emotions in the defence of France during the Great War. Blanche wrote: OHe is here, close to me, plunged into a dream where all is spoken in the present tense, I believe he is coming to see me... The cruellest part of this dialogue with the departed, with no more witnesses, no more answers, only nostalgia and sadness is left in our heart.O Word for word, line by line we follow LouisO ordeal which has only just begun, an ordeal which for him will last nearly four years.

A tale of human behaviour set in Lyon, a mysterious and esoteric city in 19th century France, in the heart of the old historical districts of St. Jean and St. Georges. Alexandrine is a romantic passionate young woman who falls in love with a naval officer called Lachelles. Lachelles' mother Juliana has a passion for hats that has led him to discover Alexandrine, the daughter of a local hat maker, who owns a modest factory in Lyon. Juliana however disapproves of the young Alexandrine; her social status is not high enough for her son. Juliana's "Machiavellian" manipulation will unwittingly send him to a cruel fate. Mysterious disappearance, death, tragedy, differences of status and wealth will bring conflicts and sorrows for both families, but somehow the two families will share a secret: a strong silk thread which will unite them forever...Auguste, an army mercenary in the Dutch army, having served fourteen years in Indonesia, brings more passion and above all stability to Alexandrine's life.