Lucy Adlington: Books
Historical Non-Fiction
The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: The True Story of the Women Who Sewed To Survive
Twenty-five inmates of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp were selected to design, cut, and sew beautiful fashions for the Nazi elite. They hoped this work would spare them from the gas chambers. Includes interviews with the last surviving seamstress:
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Four Red Sweaters: Powerful True Stories of Women and the Holocaust
The ordinary can connect us in extraordinary ways. This non-fiction account follows four Jewish girls and women during the Holocaust. These strangers were all unknowingly linked by everyday garments. Published 18 March 2025:
Stitches In Time
Riffling through the wardrobes of times gone by, costume historian Lucy Adlington takes us on a stylish tour through 2,000 years of the history of fashion. Crammed with quotable facts and compelling pictures:
Opening the Wardrobe
A photo book packed with iconic outfits from 1900 to the 1990s. Discover how quickly styles change, reflecting social and political trends:
Great War Fashion
Who were the real women behind the stiff ideal of an Edwardian Society lady? How did they transform into overall-wearing munitions factory workers? This is an exceptional portrait of an inspiring generation of women. Includes rare and stunning images:
Fashion: Women in the First World War
Explore the impact of war on fashion, from the luxurious silks of High Society, to the boots and breeches of the Women’s Land Army. Includes unique images of beautiful original garments:
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Ready For Action
Imagine being in the open cockpit of a Russian bomber. Or on fire watch in Tokyo. What would you wear? Get a unique, illustrated insight into the experiences of women worldwide during World War Two and its aftermath:
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Young Adult Fiction
Past, present and future collide in Lucy Adlington's Young Adult fiction titles. Her novels for teenagers have been nominated and/or shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Writing, the Manchester Fiction Prize and the Leeds Book Awards.
Reviews of Lucy's fiction
"Captivates, inspires and ultimately enriches." - Heather Morris, author of
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
"Gritty historical fiction with a symbol of hope." - Times Educational Supplement
"A smart and sympathetic teen voice." - Booklist
Young Adult fiction: World War II
The Red Ribbon
Fourteen-year-old Ella finds herself in a sewing workshop at a concentration camp. Here skeletal women stitch couture dresses for the Nazi elite. Here stylish designs or careless stitches can mean life or death.
It is a story of courage, desperation, and hope — hope as delicate and as strong as silk, as vibrant as a red ribbon in a sea of grey.
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Summerland
England, October 1946. Serious, silent Brigitta arrives with a group of Red Cross refugee children. The quest: to reach Summerland Hall and solve a wartime mystery... but Summerland holds secrets and shadows of its own. A rich tale of love, prejudice, truth and forgiveness. Inspired by real events.
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Burning Mountain
Enter the world of a Peter, a young German paratrooper, and Vittoria, a street scavenger, both fighting to survive in war-torn Italy as the volcano Vesuvius erupts
Buy Burning MountainYoung Adult fiction: Fantasy
The Diary of Pelly-D
Travel to another world, another time. Here a young construction worker finds a diary buried in the rubble of a war-ruined city. Within the pages, he discovers the voice of a sassy girl he's never met and a life slowly turning sinister.
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Cherry Heaven
Two girls look for a fresh start on The New Frontier, in a beautiful new home. But softly, secretly, shadows are creeping towards them...
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The Glittering Eye
A boy wakes in a barley field with no past and no memories. A girl arrives in Egypt for an archaeological dig. Are some things best left buried? A highly charged adventure that will keep you guessing…
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Night Witches
Two nations at war. One heart caught in the middle. A fantasy tale of teenage bomber crews and wild witchcraft inspired by true tales of female fighters in World War Two.
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About Lucy Adlington
Lucy Adlington is a New York Times bestselling author and clothing historian. She writes non-fiction books inspired by historical clothing, and young adult fiction.
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