A Memory of Violets

by Hazel Gaynor

In 1912, twenty-year-old Tilly Harper leaves the peace and beauty of her native Lake District for London, to become assistant housemother at Mr. Shaw’s Home for Watercress and Flower Girls. For years, the home has cared for London’s flower girls—orphaned and crippled children living on the grimy streets and selling posies of violets and watercress to survive.

Soon after she arrives, Tilly discovers a diary written by an orphan named Florrie—a young Irish flower girl who died of a broken heart after she and her sister, Rosie, were separated. Moved by Florrie’s pain and all she endured in her brief life, Tilly sets out to discover what happened to Rosie. But the search will not be easy. Full of twists and surprises, it leads the caring and determined young woman into unexpected places, including the depths of her own heart.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Book Club, British Literature, Audiobook, Adult

Audiobook

First published February 3, 2015

About the author

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning New York Times and internationally bestselling author of historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. A recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel award and the 2024 Audie award for Best Fiction Narrator, she was also shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown, and the Irish Book Awards in 2017, 2020 and 2023.

Hazel’s co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim, winning or being shortlisted for several international awards.

She is a regular speaker at literary festivals, co-founder of The Inspiration Project, and programmed and hosted a series of Historia Live events in association with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature in 2024. Her work is translated into 20 languages and published in twenty-seven territories to date. Her latest novel, Before Dorothy, the imagine life story of Dorothy’s Aunt Em from The Wizard of Oz, will be published in June 2025.

Hazel lives in Ireland with her family.

For more information, visit www.hazelgaynor.com
where you can also sign up for her newsletter.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I chose to listen to this audiobook (available on cloudLibrary and Hoopla):
1. GR friend, Terrie R. wrote a most intriguing review, leading me to add it to my WTR list; and,
2. I love historical fiction with a unique premise!

Praises:
1. author Hazel Gaynor paints a very descriptive picture of the class system during England's Victorian/Edwardian eras. This is the first book I've read which focuses on the flower sellers at that time, many of whom were disabled in some way. Fictional Albert Shaw (real-life person was John Groom) helped many of these girls, sending younger ones to reputable orphanages while older girls were cared for and employed to produce artificial flowers at the then-named John Groom's Crippleage and Flower Girls Mission;
2. I learned more about these scenarios and the people involved through various POVs, from downtrodden orphan girls to upper-class society ladies via interactions, thoughts, diary entries, and letters;
3. lately, some books I've read featuring dual-timelines have been quite disappointing, but this one, from 1876 to 1913, felt believable and necessary;
4. the characters portrayed depth and growth;
5. happily, the coincidences worked for me;
6. thank goodness the romance featured in this story was minimal; and,
7. narrator Nicola Barber breathes life into all of the characters! She kept me enthralled throughout!

Niggles:
I can't think of any!

Overall Thoughts:
A story about love, loss, and forgiveness. Here's a rare historical fiction that I absolutely fell in love with! I'm getting hardnosed as I mature as a reader, especially in regards to sentimental stories, but this one had me crying!

Highly recommend for historical fiction fans!

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming and a heart wrenching novel. Set in the early 1900's it highlights the misfortune of the children, many homeless, that populated London. Many were crippled, ill used by those in their small hovels, and others had no one. They sold flowers to survive, to eat or to stop them from getting a beating at home for not bringing back enough money.

Albert Shaw, based on the very real John Grooms, saw their misfortune and started homes for these poor young woman. When they are old enough they are taught to make fabric flowers.

Tilly, a young woman, escaping from a home life that carries with it a great misfortune, arrives to become a house mother at one of the homes. The story is related alternately by Florrie, a young Irish girl whose mother dies and is left in the care of her drunken father and in charge of her four yr. old sister. One day while selling flowers, Rose goes missing and Florrie will spend the rest of her life looking for her.

We learn about the terrible conditions on the street, secrets and a strange coincidence in Tilly's past and read the journals written by Florrie, we meet several of these young girls and are treated to some of the most wonderful, caring people. A very good book, that I perhaps gave a sentimental rating, but this is all based on fact although the story is the authors own. The author does a wonderful job keeping the Reader's interest by the changing perspective of the plot. Well worth a read if these type of stories are to you liking. I for one am glad I read it, was a good book for over the holidays, showing some reform minded Victorians that had some very giving spirits. These homes operated for over 100 years.

ARC from publisher

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tilly, Flora, and Rosie...three characters connected by time, London, and flowers.

Flora, crippled and in care of her little sister since their mother died, lost her younger, blind sister Rosie on the street as they were selling flowers. Flora made it her life's quest to find Rosie. Tilly, a housemother at an orphanage where Flora stayed years before, makes a connection to both Flora and Rosie through a diary Tilly finds in the closet in her room​ at the orphanage.

Tilly feels she was destined to find the diary a​nd to ​find Rosie. Tilly felt Flora's presence in her room through the smell of violets and cold breezes. Could Flora really be in the room Tilly now occupied? Could she and Flora together find Rosie,​ and could Tilly find what she was looking for in life and ease the sadness about her own life?​

Going back and forth in time and telling Flora and Rosie's story was intriguing and beautifully told. A MEMORY OF VIOLETS is a book set in the time period and place that I thoroughly enjoy....the 1800's in London. It also has a character based on a real person.

You will ​mingle with proper Victorian ladies as well as poverty-stricken children and families. Descriptions of both ends of the economic scale make this book absolutely wonderful.

The beautiful writing and descriptions keep you glued to the pages and ​give you ​the feeling that you are sharing every situation with the characters. Tilly's story is as good as Flora's and Rosie's story and reveals a secret she finds out about herself.

The characters are warm and inviting. A MEMORY OF VIOLETS is going to be a favorite for ​2015, and the characters will remain in my "memory" long after I turn the last page.

A MEMORY OF VIOLETS has a marvelous writing style and storyline. The book's beginning and ending make a full circle of life filled with love, understanding, and compassion.

I loved A MEMORY OF VIOLETS. The ending is chilling and oh so tender and beautiful. You need to make room in your toppling TBR stacks for A MEMORY OF VIOLETS. 5/5​

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Memory of Violets” by Hazel Gaynor - Oh, how I loved this book!

A historical fiction novel set in Victorian London between 1876 - 1913. Orphaned Irish sisters, flower sellers from the impoverished area of Covent Garden’s flower market, become tragically separated setting their lives in different directions. The 8 year old sister uses a crutch to walk, the 4 year old younger sister is blind.

Flash forward to 1912 when a newly hired housemother at one of London’s homes for orphaned & crippled flower girls discovers a journal & childhood keepsakes from the past. Her search for answers begins.....It’s an emotional read about second chances, family bonds, overcoming adversity, forgiveness, hope and love.

I highly recommend this book. But be warned: It’s a tear-jerker!

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.

4 Stars!

Every once in a while, I am lucky enough to pick up a book that I just can't seem to get out of my mind. This was one of those books. I found myself thinking about this book constantly during the course of my day. I told my daughter about it and anyone else who would listen. I couldn't turn the story off in my head. I just had to know what happened to Florrie and Rosie.

My favorite parts of the book were were set in the late 1800's in London and told from Florrie's perspective. For some reason, I really connected with her character. As her story unfolded during the first half of the book, I was completely mesmerized. I could imagine her as a young child taking responsibility for her younger sister, Rosie. The love that Florrie felt for her sister was incredibly powerful for me.

This story was also told from Tilly's point of view during the early 1900's. Tilly goes to work as an assistant housemother at Mr. Shaw's Home for Watercress and Flower Girls. She soon finds Florrie's journal in her room and becomes interested in what happened and makes a vow to find Rosie. Tilly has things that she needs to deal with in her own life and working at the home along with looking for Rosie seems to help her with that.

I absolutely loved the first half of this book. I loved Florrie and Rosie's story and it really made me think about what it must have been like for a young orphan with a disability living in that time period. I think that the writing did a fabulous job of showing the reader how these children suffered. There were several twists during the first half that caught me completely off guard that I really enjoyed. The style of writing was wonderful with a very distinctive voice for each of the points of view. The characters in this story were so vivid and likeable and I felt like I was right there with them.

I liked the second half of the book but it didn't hold the magic that I felt with the first half. I think that one main reason for that was that Florrie was not as much of a focus. The second half of the novel felt much more predictable for me and I was able to guess how things would end. There was a bit of magical realism thrown in towards the end of the book that I really didn't think added much to the story.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. This story about the love of a sister is moving. This isn't the kind of book that I normally pick up but I am so very glad that I did. This story is one that will stay with me for a long time. This is the first book by Hazel Gaynor that I have had a chance to read but I plan to continue reading her work in the future.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks via Edelweiss for the purpose of providing an honest review.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. This story gives a glimpse into a world of two drastic social classes: one very rich and the other very poor; the aristocrats and the poor Irish immigrants living in the slums of London’s poorest neighborhood. It offers a glimpse into the lives of crippled and orphaned girls, who sell flowers to survive and are afraid to be taken to workhouse, which is like a death sentence. And a quest of one man with a charitable heart to make a difference. He creates a home for those poor girls, and gives them purpose, confidence, and hope.

England, 1912: Tilly Harper arrives in London for a position of assistant housemother at Mr. Shaw’s Home for Watercress and Flower Girls. Home for orphaned and crippled girls. Instead of selling flowers on the grimy streets of London and be dependent on seasons, they make artificial flowers year-round. Flowers made out of silk, looking so lifelike that you want to smell the perfume of the petals. Tilly is assigned to Violet Home – one of the Flower Homes as they are called after flowers. There, she finds a notebook written by an orphan named Florrie.

London, 1876: Florrie promises her mom she’ll look after her little sister, before her mom passes away. But while selling flowers, an accident happens and her sister’s hand slips from hers and Rosie is gone. She writes her memories down in hope when she finds her sister; she’ll be able to show her that she never forgot her and never stopped looking for her.

Meanwhile, the story of Rose’s gets revealed.

As Tilly continues her read of Florrie’s notebook, her own search for Rosie begins. And when she struggles, her late father’s encouraging words come to her mind. – This part which brings her father’s words is very endearing, including the dear relationship she had had with her father. Her father’s words are very resonating.

The layers of the story are beautifully revealed.

The atmosphere of family and the pride they take in making those flowers shine through the story. You can feel the pride and excitement and the unity of that place. It’s very heartening. The girls can’t mend their bodies, but the place mends their hearts, bringing their spirits up.

This is a very delightful and endearing read; originally written, and interestingly plotted, with uplifting characters. This book is a treasure.

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be heartwarming.

P.S. This story was inspired by real London’s flower sellers, Alexandra Day Rose, and John Groom’s organization.

@FB/BestHistoricalFiction

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book about the plight of the poor in the late 1880's to the 1910's but it about so much more. The book centers around two young flowers sellers in London in the 1880's. The two girls, 8 and 4, are firmly bonded after their mother's death and the avoidance of their father who beats them when they don't make enough money. Their life is horrendous and the descriptions literally brought me to tears.

They become separated one fateful day and the older one, Florrie, spends her life searching for her younger sister, Rose. Florrie meets an incredible man, Alfred Shaw. He has set up a factory with homes for the disabled and poor flower girls. There they learn to make beautiful, artificial flowers. The flowers are such a success that Queen Alexandra orders a million roses to be sold throughout London to raise funds for the poor. Shaw operates on the theory that the disabled can function and contribute despite their handicaps. It makes such a difference in the girl's lives. Even the girls with no arms are taught to paint the flowers with paintbrushes in their teeth.

There are several backstories that are tied up nicely and keep the story moving along. The part I liked best is how this man set up a functioning business and homes for the poorest and how they flourished. It could be a blueprint for what we could accomplish today if we tried. I enjoyed this book tremendously and think it would be a wonderful selection for a book group.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a meaningful story of sisters, embracing love, extraordinary kindness and altruism.

Alternating between the present and the past – London 1912 and London 1876 we read of two young women and their individual stories of their relationship with their sisters ensnarled in misfortune. Parallel, contrasting the stories reveal the bonds and unfastening of sisters.

Gaynor’s extensive research cannot go unnoticed as she delves into the disparity of the wealthy and impoverished coexisting in Victorian London. Introducing the reader to London’s flower girls – crippled and orphaned children selling violets and watercress as a means of survival as they make their home on the filthy harsh streets. These castaway girls steal your heart becoming a fascinating fixture in the compelling narrative. As Gaynor reveals more of these young ladies and of the historical facts you find yourself heartbroken and jubilant.

A majority of the story serves Florrie and Rosie – we understand the insurmountable loss Florrie underwent, however, the reader cannot escape Florrie’s lamentations of losing her sister, redundancy bordering annoying given the fact we learn fairly early on Rosie’s outcome.

All the characters warmed my heart, I found myself drawn to Tilly the most. Her curious nature, her yearn to solve the mystery as Florrie’s diary speaks to her, the fragrance of violets pushing her to learn of what became of little Rosie. Learning of Tilly’s background as well as her cloudy relationship with her sister was needless to say affecting.

A wonderful story revealing the harshness and softness of society, fascinating historical facts skillfully woven into a compelling narrative along with endearing characters.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

I read to be transported to a different place and time. This book was so riddled with implausible coincidences that I was never able to become immersed in the story - I kept shaking my head, thinking “Yeah, right!” After about the 8th “remarkable” coincidence, it became ridiculous.

The author has an engaging writing style, but she needs to pay more attention to period details. I found it very hard to believe in the Edwardian England as portrayed. The characters did not speak nor act as I thought they should.

Here are just a couple of examples of things I questioned:

• I guess there was very little class distinction in England at the time, and almost everyone spoke and wrote the Queen’s English – even former Covent Garden flower girls? (I doubt it)

• The wives of wealthy industrialists and daughters of blacksmiths both traveled in 2nd class, introduced themselves to each other, and conversed the entire way? (Hard to believe)

Nothing about this book felt believable... which was unfortunate because much of the setting was based on historical fact.

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This deserves at least a thousand stars!!!!

I absolutely loved this book, it's a subject that I never heard of before: London's Flower Sellers. They were orphans either abandoned by parents who didn't want them or their parents died and there was no one to take care of them. These girls lived on the streets and sold flowers to people passing by to earn money and everyone of them were disabled in one way or another. Some were blind, others had no arms, some walked on crutches, ect. Yet, they all wanted to survive! From 1842 to 1912, Albert Shaw, ( his real name is John Groom) created Training House for Watercress and Flower Girls and took in as many orphans as he could and got them off the streets and away from orphanages and the workhouse. Here they could survive and made beautiful flowers out of silk. Hazel Gaynor did extensive research on this subject and this book is based on true accounts of the flower girls, journals of John Groom and letters as well as newspaper articles.

1876: Flora, better known as Florrie and her little sister Rosie Flynn, Irish orphans who were flower sellers. When Florrie was 8 she promised her Mom as she was dying, that she would look over Rosie, who was only 3 years old, for her whole life. Florrie walked with a crutch 🩼 and always held Rosie's hand as she was blind. One day, a man knocked out the crutch from Florrie and took Rosie away!! She searched for Rosie and begged people to help her but no one did. Albert Shaw found Florrie and took her in promised her that he would do all he could to find Rosie. Florrie kept a journal and in there she tells the tale of her and Rosie's life, together and apart.
Here's what it says in the inscription:
" For Little Sister.
All flowers are beautiful,
but some are more beautiful than others.
I will never stop looking for you."
Flora Flynn

" When I am after getting sad at at night, Mother ( she's one of the ladies who takes care of these children) comes to comfort me. She tells me I mustn't worry about you. She says a person can never be truly lost as long as someone is looking for them. And I'll always be looking for you, Rosie."

One of Florrie's last entries written when she was 28 really touched my heart.

November 28, 1896
" It's been 20 years since I last saw you, Rosie, and yet I feel your loss as keenly as if you'd held my hand just yesterday."
" There's a difference, you see between living and existing. What me and you were doing on the streets was existing - and barely that. What Mr. Shaw has given me was a life to live."

Was Rosie ever found? What happened to Florrie? Were they ever reunited?

1912: Tilly Harper, a 21 year old lady from the Lake District goes to London to be become assistant housemother for the children living in one of Mr. Shaw's Training Houses for Watercress and Flower Girls. Tilly is looking for a fresh start and gladly leaves her past behind. Tilly has secrets about her life to find out as you read this book. Her Mother never cared for her as much as she did Esther, her young sister. Esther is in a wheelchair due to an accident which left her paralyzed. They aren't close. As Tilly settled into.her room at the Training House, she discovered Florrie's journal and the keepsakes inside the old wooden box that was in the wardrobe. What happens next.....? 🤫

The characters are well developed and believable. I really enjoyed reading about Florrie, Rose and Tilly! It's a unique duel timeline because the past meets the present. There's a lot of mysteries to solve and twists and turns that take you on the adventures of these ladies lives. I really couldn't put this one down! I listened to the audiobook and read the physical book at the same time so as not to miss anything! The narrator is amazing and she really takes on the dialects of English and Irish!! You'll need Kleenex handy for the starting end!!! Hazel Gaynor really hit this one out of the park, she can really write such beautiful stories that touch your heart and keeps you in suspense.

Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨💜🌼🌹🪻🌸🌺

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the charitable work of a remarkable man, John Groom (the real Albert Shaw). Have tissues ready for the last few chapters..

[Nefertari · Rating 2 out of 5]

The one real strength in this book is the description of the London streets, the evocative imagery of flower sellers and the trials they went through.

This book suffers from several enormous problems, however. While I won't give away the plot, the concept of "plot twist" is abandoned in favor of some of the most improbable coincidences I've ever read. I just remember shaking my head in disgust. You can use coincidence once, even twice, and get away with it - but five or six times, and it's just ridiculous.

The book is set between alternating points of view - the older from the 1876 POV of a flower seller, Florrie, who at the tender age of eight becomes responsible for the full support of her blind four-year-old sister, Rosie. This is the emotional heart of the book - Rosie rings true.

Unfortunately, Rosie has to share the book with Tilly, who becomes the 1912 POV of a young housemother journeying to London. Tilly just can't stop tripping over coincidence, and it's hard to like her in spite of it. We hear a lot about her relationships with the girls under her care - but just briefly, and never anything like an anecdote, just that Tilly is growing to understand things about these women. We don't get the treat of actually seeing her interact with them - they're more like wallpaper. Tilly has a sister as well - and apparently their relationship isn't great. Not that the reader gets to witness it - after a lot of "dramatic" buildup, we meet her sister, and in that one conversation, there's absolutely no drama, just a quick capitulation. We never get to see them interact afterwards - just a weak metaphor about taking down a wall.

There's also a weak romance for Tilly, but there's so little interaction between the characters that it's not exactly a dramatic point in the book.

Verdict: Despite some good writing, Ms. Gaynor needs to flesh out her characters a little more before sending her next novel to her editor.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

So when this book arrived for review, my mum couldn't resist and she wanted to review it for me. Here is her review:

Such a lovely well written novel; as a Londoner and former florist who was a regular 4am visitor to old Covent Garden I could almost smell the flowers in this book. I remember the hustle and bustle of the early morning traders, cupping and blowing into my frozen fingers and feeling the warmth of tea or hot chocolate to keep out the cold, banging my frozen feet on the ground waiting while my father bartered with the sellers and then loading boxes of flowers onto our van ready to take back to our shop to sell. All these long forgotten memories came flooding back to me as I read about Flora and Rosie the little orphaned flower sellers. Good storytellers evoke memories and Hazel Gaynor definitely did this for me with A Memory of Violets.

Covent Garden has changed quite a bit now but when I was a child it must have been unchanged from the late 1800's and I could easily picture Flora and Rosie picking up fallen flowers and watercress to make into posies to sell to the gentry. Because I felt such a connection this was quite a special read for me. I loved how the whole story was bought together by Tilly Harpers' story and how she fitted into the novel to help find the missing little flower sellers' sister.

I don't want to retell the story or give away any spoilers to this beautiful heartwarming and often heart wrenching story so you'll have to trust me and read it yourself but I can say that you won't be disappointed. It is even more poignant when you remember that life really was like this for so many children at the turn of the century, never knowing if they would eat, having no where warm and safe to live, being terrified of the Work House and having to work as soon as they were able. I'm sure Flora's story was not uncommon and many young girls suffered the deprivation and hardship of poverty, many died young, lost their families and spent their lives searching for their siblings on the often cruel streets of London. This novel is so much more than a work of fiction and that is what for me makes this such a good piece of writing.

Tilly, Flora and Rosie will stay with me for a long time, I am so glad I read this book and so glad that I was not born in the late 1800's

I have to give this book 5 stars.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is set at the turn of the century, and alternates between Tilly, who goes to live as a house mother at an orphanage for crippled girls who make flowers, and Florrie and her little sister, Rosie. They are little girls surviving in poverty on the streets of London. One day they are separated, and Florrie spends her life missing, and searching for Rosie.
I loved this historical fiction, and highly recommend if you liked Secrets Of A Charmed Life by Susan Meissner.

[Lormac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that my mother absolutely adored this book. She couldn't stop talking about it and recommended it to anyone who would listen. I kind of thought that it might not be my cup of tea, but when I saw the audio book at the library, I thought I would give it a listen.

Well, I was right. The plot contrivances are ridiculous and innumerable. The fact that these characters (or their parents) would be bumping into each other all the time all over England is just absurd. There is a romance which seems conjured up out of nowhere and is also fairly unlikely given how class conscious England was at that time. Plus there is some hocus pocus ghost nonsense.

Gaynor manages to cover two of my absolute pet peeves in this book. The first is irregular time manipulation. Within the space of less than 6 hours, Tilly meets a woman with a distinctive hanky, arrives at her new job, and finds an identical hanky, and meets the man of her dreams. But then, it takes her six months to read the diary that she found with the second hanky. Shouldn't it have taken six hours to read the book and six months to solve the mystery and meet her future husband? Nope, for the sake of the stupid plot, Gaynor speeds one up and slows one down. It makes no sense. The second pet peeve is authors who make characters carry on like no real person ever would. Tilly has been the source of gossip and derision in her hometown which is why she was happy to leave for her new job in London, but this does not stop her on a trip home from going to the graveyard behind the church and screaming criticisms at the occupant of a particular gravesite - within earshot of the vicar's wife and also her beloved. Really, girl?!! You think she would try to maintain a low profile and impress her suitor with her even-tempered demeanor, but Gaynor cannot resist the temptation to manufacture some ridiculous drama.

Just for the record - there really was a minister in London in the late 1800s, John Groom, who ran a charity for crippled and orphaned flower sellers in London, and who set up an artificial flower factory where they could earn a living. He even opened an estate at the seaside as described in the book. This man was the inspiration for Gaynor's Mr. Shaw. This little piece of history is fascinating, and I would never have known about it if not for this book, so I gave it two stars just for this.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was inspired by the flower sellers of Victorian England. The author’s meticulous research, and her passion for her subject, and her writing talent make this a great book discussion selection.

Premise: Florrie is just a child in 1876 when she takes on the care of her baby sister Rosie. When she becomes lost she vows to find her. Thirty-six years later, Tilly Harper discovers the journal of now deceased Florrie who until her dying day, kept looking for Rosie. Now Tilly makes it her mission to figure out what happened.

Will the mystery be solved?

This is a story of loyalty, betrayal, guilt and forgiveness.

The London of both 1876 and 1912 come to life through the author’s rich descriptions. The characters are well-developed. As readers we are invested in their struggles.

There is history, mystery and some romance to appreciate.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story based on true events. I loved the sisters story lines and the mystery of what really happened. It was just a bit slow for me.

[Trudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars (Audio Version. So, yes, I cried at the end. Not because it was sad, but because it was achingly beautiful. This book contained so many things I love:

- Sister Love
- 1912 England
- Beautiful Lilting Irish Voice
- Champions of Disabled Children
- A Sweet Whispered Love Story
- Poverty Stricken Women Finding Their Places in the World
- Lovely Piano Music at the beginning and again at the end
- Forgiveness
- The Often Overlooked Beauty of Death
- and FLOWERS, FLOWERS, FLOWERS

The only regret I have is I didn't whispersync it. Although the voice was amazing, I missed the words. I will buy it when I reread it.

[Sue Seligman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book by Hazel Gaynor that I have read. Based on true events, this novel is about the flower sellers who lived hand to mouth in the streets of London during the 1800s and 1900s. The author tells this riveting story through alternating points of view and time periods. We are introduced to eight year old Florrie Flynn and her blind sister, four year old Rosie, who spend hours on the streets selling flowers to wealthy passers by in order to bring home money to support their alcoholic father and mentally ill aunt. Their mother, the only source of love for the children, died, leaving them to this threadbare existence. One horrible day, Florrie and her sister are separated in the streets and despite help from the benefactor, Mr. Albert Shaw, Florrie is unable to find her little sister. Years later, Tillie Harper, who is running from her own demons, finds a job working for the same Mr. Shaw, and learns about the story of the separated sisters. She is inexplicably drawn to this sad situation and is compelled to try to sole the mystery of the two siblings.
The writing in this book is gorgeous. The descriptions of the London slums are gritty and real; the reader can visualize the crowds on the streets and smell the dirt and grime. In contrast the portrayal of the English countryside and the fragrant flowers appeal to all the senses. The characters come alive on the page. I didn’t read this book quickly; I savored every word and became emotional attached to each character. I highly recommend this book to readers of historical fiction and women’s fiction.

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while you read a book that just takes your breath away, blows your mind away and leaves you speechless for a long, long time. "A Memory of Violets" was such a book. I could describe this novel in one word only without a problem and this word would be: "beautiful"! I needed to gather my thoughts first before I started to write a review for this book at all, and still I am not sure if I can do it a justice with my words. It was so brilliant that it is, in fact, indescribable. I am not going to forget this story and I am going to come back to it and re - read it thousand times and I know I am going to love it for ever and ever. It is a real gem of a book, a kind that you don't often come across, and everybody should read it. Because if you're not going to read it, you have no idea how much you miss.

It is 1912 and Tilly Harper has just left her family house and travels to London to start her new job as an assistant housemother at one of Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls, which were established by Albert Shaw. Usually orphaned and/or crippled, the girls find not only roof over their heads there, but they can learn and they are famous for producing artificial flowers.
Soon after arriving, Tilly finds a diary in her new room. a diary, that she quickly discovers, was written by Florrie. Florrie was one of the flower girls, she and her sister, and at the beginning also their mother, before she died, were selling violets and watercresses on the streets, to survive. Tilly discovers that Florrie, who always dreamed of having a younger sister, and when the sister was finally born, loved her unconditionally and took care of her, especially after they were alone, and as Rosie was partially blind. She never wanted to be parted from her Little Sister. Tragically, they were separated and Florrie spent the rest of her life looking for Rosie, searching for her, never losing hope to find her, and eventually died of broken heart.
Florrie's story moves Tilly so much that she promises herself - and Florrie, whose presence she can feel in the room - to find Rosie. But will she manage? So many years has passed already... Will she be able to discover the truth?

This was a heart - wrenching story about two sisters who has lost each other and were searching for each other, and each time when they came so close, but didn't find each other, I felt that a small piece of my heart is being broken. I couldn't believe how close they were to find each other and it hurt me so much when it didn't happen. I was so impressed with the feeling of love those two little girls felt to each other, and how grown up those children were, how they took care about each other - you know, before I become a mum myself, such things didn't make as big of an impact on me as they do now, when I am a mum. I just can't stop but imagine being in the same situation, my Sophie being in the same situation, and the tears come by themselves to my eyes. I think it is only natural that when we are reading such book, we can only think and thank whomever we should thank for how lucky we are to live the life we have. What's worse, the story is based on facts, those things really happened in the past, and while the plot itself is a fiction, there was Albert Shaw, whose real name was John Grooms, who started homes for those poor, little, disabled girls. He set up a workshop to produce artificial flowers, that were made by the orphaned girls. It is unbelievable how important and big this whole enterprise grew, and the real culmination of this hard work was Alexandra Rose Day, when the girls made millions of artificial flowers for Queen Alexandra.

The story is told with so much empathy and understanding, and I couldn't help but I fell for all the characters, from the beginning to the end. It is told with a lot of intuition and tact and the author did a brilliant job to emphasize with those children and telling us a story from their point of view, and continuing it as they were growing and their views became more mature, but were still full of love and emotions. All the characters just felt so true, not false, they were honest and innocent, and because they were so good and didn't deserve for such fate, it made it so painful and heart - breaking for the reader.

The characters in this book were absolutely wonderful and I loved all of them. Each of them tells their story, and each story is more poignant than the previous one. We learn that Tilly is, in fact, escaping home, and slowly discover what happened and why she felt so guilty all the time. There was such warmth to this girl that I could only wish her all best. I've just grown so fond of this girl, whose past was so tragic and sad, and I couldn't wait for all the secrets to be revealed to see what happened, and well, this plot didn't disappoint.
I think I can certainly tell that Florrie and Rosie have totally stole my heart. Those two little, brave girls, and especially Flora, herself crippled, who take such care of her sister, who need all this care. She's made it her life's quest to find Rosie and I could wept with despair and sorrow at their being so close, yet not being able to find each other! All the characters in the book, not only Florrie and Rosie, but all of them, have just touched my heart and I fell for them, absolutely, from the very beginning. This unconditional love of Florrie and Rosie has brought tears to my eyes, and every time Florrie tell Rosie how important it is to keep together, for Rosie to never let Florrie's hand, I must have swallow and I just saw those two little girls, so tightly keeping to each other. Don't let go, Rosie, don't let go... And when I was thinking the story couldn't be more moving, there was a short passage told from Rosie's point of view, when the girls lost each other, not by choice of course, and I found that I can't breath. That I'm probably going to choke. I couldn't think of the pain and fear those two girls must have been feeling - in such a wonderful, vivid way the author described this all. I couldn't stop imagining not only those two girls, but all the other children, living in this awful, dirty world, and surviving.

The descriptions of London were so vivid and realistic that each time when I came up for breath, I must have blink once or twice to make sure that I'm at home, where it is warm and I have something to eat, and not on the cold, dangerous street of the big city. Hazel writes as it was, not sparing us smells, rats scurrying under the bare, blue from cold feet, the dangers of being on the streets alone.

This book has elegance, feeling to it. It is a very complex story, what with the plot switching between the times but there was not a single moment that I felt lost or confused and didn't know what's going on and who Hazel is writing about now. I absolutely adored all the stories that built the book, I didn't have a favourite one. Florrie's story was absolutely heart - breaking, the same as Tilly's, and the Rosie's one gave so much hope. I could connect with all the characters and the plots just mesmerized me.

I was hooked with the writing and the story from start, shocked with the sincerity it was told through the eyes of the child - well, it is well known that children don't lie, and so the book was told in this totally honest, truthful and also painful - because of the brutal fairness - way.

This book is so very complex, there are many subplots there, and it is full of twists and turns and the author often took me by surprise. It was also full of coincidences and while I am more a pragmatic one, I think I should start to believe in coincidence, just as Violette does. Every story is beautifully and nicely tied up in this book. It is told through diary entries, letters but mostly narrative in third person narrative, through different point of views, and it may sound complicated, but it isn't. Writing such complex, yet such easy to follow book just made me admire Hazel Gaynor and her incredible talent.

The writing style was wonderful, subtle, delicate and elegant, and every character has found her distinctive voice in the story.
This is also a brilliant, and written in a totally absorbing way, a short lesson in history and it so realistically describes the reality of Victorian times, when you could have either been very poor or very rich, showing this big contrast between those poverty - stricken, often disabled children and their families and, on the other end, nice ladies and handsome gentlemen living in big mansions and having enough to eat.

Flowers play a significant role in the story as well. They were described in a very beautiful, meaningful way, and I also absolutely adored how each chapter started with a picture of a flower. I am not a person with green fingers at all, and the only flowers that you find at my place are either orchids or tulips in the vase, so I absolutely enjoyed Hazel introducing me to a totally new world for me, a world when flowers have so many meanings and a world where they are so important and so loved.

I think you already know about my feelings for this book then? It was a wonderful, beautifully written novel that is going to stay with you for a very long time, a book that one comes upon once in a while and a book that you don't want to leave, to depart with. It is my first book by Hazel Gaynor but I certainly know that the next thing I'm going to do is to order "The Girl Who Came Home" and read it as soon as it arrives. Thank you, Hazel, for writing this book, it was indescribable experience, and I urge you all to read "A Memory of Violets" - you won't regret it.

Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having loved Hazel’s debut novel, The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic, I was very much looking forward to this and I was lucky enough to win a signed copy in a competition run by the author. The story is inspired by true events which makes it an even more of a poignant read. My copy was a proof and not a finished one but it had beautiful black and white sketch drawings of flowers at the top of each new chapter page.

It is 1912 and 26 year old Tilly Harper leaves her home in the Lake District to become an assistant housemother at Shaw’s Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls, located in London and Clacton. Something dreadful has happened which drives a wedge between Tilly and her family and to get away from the stares and the gossip, Tilly moves to London.

When she arrives at the Home, she finds hidden in her room a notebook, written by a previous occupant, Florrie (Flora) Flynn. There is obviously heartbreak in the story and Tilly is intrigued and wants to find out more.

Crippled Flora and her blind little sister Rosie were flower seller girls, living in London in the late 1800’s. They were orphans and Flora is Rosie’s protector until one day when Rosie suddenly disappears. Flora is heartbroken and it is extracts from her notebook that form the basis of the story, and which moves Tilly so much.

For young girls such as Flora and Rosie, orphaned and who lived in poverty, life in London was terrifying and brutal, they made pennies from selling their flowers and watercress and were often barefoot, cold, hungry and homeless. It was thanks to men like Albert Shaw (in reality a Victorian philanthropist called John Groom) who established the training home and who took in some of these young girls that they managed to survive. Flora Flynn was lucky to have been found by Albert Shaw, along with so many other young girls who found themselves being cared for in a warm and safe environment, earning a wage, albeit working for long hours but without the danger of living on the streets. Many of the girls were crippled or disabled, either by loss of limbs or blindness and these young girls found themselves learning a trade and for the first time in their lives made to feel worthwhile. They were given the task of making many thousands of artificial roses (to be known as Alexandra Roses) for a charity fundraising event organized by Queen Alexandra – a charity which still continues to this day.

Hazel Gaynor has done a wonderful job of capturing the poverty and the hardship suffered by the poorest and most vulnerable without being overly sentimental. The descriptions of both the sights and sounds of London streets and the people are so vivid and realistic. There are also characters forming an integral part of the story, who are at the other end of the social scale and who live in luxury and the story has been constructed in such a way that the overlap is seamless.

Tilly was a wonderful character that you simply have to take to your heart and as the story progresses, we find out about her back story and why she had to leave her family. As she gets used to her new life and begins to care for the girls in her charge, she grows in strength and confidence and in her quest to try and find out what happened to little Rosie, she realizes just how important family is, no matter how difficult the circumstances.

There is a little bit of everything in this story which I am sure fans of historical fiction will love. As well as the story centered around the flower girls and the mystery surrounding Rosie’s disappearance, there is romance and also a slight paranormal aspect - which, even for someone as picky as me, has been done very subtly and does add to the atmosphere and intrigue.

This is a beautifully written story which at times was absolutely heart wrenching. However it was also one of hope and overall it was an uplifting story which made me appreciate the comfortable life I have and made me realise just how important Homes such as these were. Hazel clearly has a wonderful talent for historical fiction and I absolutely loved this book. I do so hope there is more to come from this author, her future books will certainly be on my wishlist.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes place in two time periods: in 1876 London, where 2 sisters, Florrie and Rosie are forced to sell flowers and watercress on the streets in all sorts of weather. Florrie, age 8, uses a crutch and Rosie, age 4,is blind. First their mother then their drunken father dies and they are left in the care of an uncaring aunt. One day while they are out selling flowers, Rosie disappears. Florrie spends the rest of her life trying to find her.

In 1912, a young woman, Tilly Harper arrives at the Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls, where she is hired as an assistant housemother for the crippled and orphaned girls who live there. The girls make artificial flowers to sell and earn money for the homes and themselves. In her room, Tilly finds a hidden journal written by Flora Flynn, who came to live there as a child. Flora recounts her life and how she never stopped looking for her list sister Rosie. Tilly is determined to find out what happened to Rosie, a search which changes many lives, including her own.

The story is loosely based on the real John Groom, who established the Watercress and Flower Girls’ Christian Mission, where he took in and trained the young flower girls of London to make artificial flowers in a factory. He also established an orphanage at Clacton called the Flower Village. He went around the streets of London, finding crippled and abandoned girls and gave them a chance at a new and better life. The highlight of his endeavor was in 1912, when they were asked to make roses for Queen Alexandra Rose day. The Flower Girls made thousands of artificial roses to be sold by the society ladies on the streets of London. Over 30,000 pounds was made on this day, to be donated to hospitals.

This is a wonderfully written book. It is told from Tilly‘s and Florrie’s perspectives. Florrie’s story is heartbreaking. She and her sister lived in squalid conditions. They were always hungry, filthy, dressed in rags and subjected to harsh weather conditions. They could never be just children. When Florrie is saved by Albert Shaw, (the John Groom character) her life immeasurably improves, but she never forgets her lost sister.

Tilly’s life also changes for the better once she starts working at the home. She left a troubled past behind when she moved to London and is able to make a fresh start.

There are other marvelous characters in the book, all wonderfully portrayed. You also get a great sense of place, whether you are at Covent Garden with the flower sellers, at the Home with the flower makers or at the seashore in Clacton. 1876 and 1912 London come alive in this book, its good parts and its bad.

There are themes of sisterhood, forgiveness, social consciousness, heartbreak, acceptance and above all love going through this book. There are some twists in the story, some surprising and others not so much. But the ending is very satisfying and well done. You learn a lot about the flower sellers and their sad lives. I love that this book is based on an actual place and an historical person.

I definitely recommend this book.

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I considered giving this 1 star but ended by being kinder. Poor writing, cute plotting (not a compliment), trite, twee and irritating - yet readable enough, just. For me, the worst irritant was Florrie's journal being written inan accent, possibly meant to be Irish - this simply wouldn't happen: 'gen'lemen, shimmerin' etc; if she could spell in brogue, she could spell in normal! Also, she was born and grew up in London and while there may have been some flavour of the brogue from her mother (who died when she was very young) she would not have had it whole by the time she was writing her journal.

On the whole - poppycock!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is historical fiction set in the late 1800's and early 1900's, which I enjoy. This book was a solid 3 stars for me. I liked the characters. I liked the plot. It had a great premise and it felt like I was being introduced to something new.

As far as the writing goes, I expected more descriptive strokes regarding the characters and how they navigated their journey. They were also quite similar in action and thought. However, there was plenty of description regarding the sense of place. That part was well done. So 3 stars. It was nice afternoon read.

[Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give the world your best, and the best will come back to you.

To escape a troubled past an a complicated family situation, twenty-nine year old Tilly leaves her beautiful home in the Lake District for the confined and sometimes brutal city of London to work as an assistant housemother in Shaw’s Home for Watercress and Flower Girls, a place of refuge for the homeless and crippled girls selling flowers in the streets. The year is 1912. But despite the harsh reality of life here, Tilly sees beauty as well. Beauty in the painstakingly gorgeous silk flowers that the girls create and beauty in the way they live with such hope, despite their physical ailments. But when she stumbles across a diary from one of the first flower girls to live at the home, Tilly gets caught up in the diary-girl's story and the sad and seemingly useless search for her long lost sister. But everything happens for a reason. And it may be that Tilly is the only one to help solve this decades old mystery.

This book was truly so beautiful and heartwarming! I loved the way the narrative switched back and forth between Tilly and Florrie, the girl in the diary. It was such a sad, yet enlightening and hopeful view of the plight of the afflicted during this time. And it was really a story about the bonds that we share with others, and how strongly they can last and affect numerous other people.

A overall great book that really warmed my heart!

"There is a reason for everything, and everything has a reason. Keep a close eye on life, and you will always know what that reason is."

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful heart warming story about a sad part of living post World War 1 in England. These talented little orphans girls and women give us great insight into their determination when given a second chance. Lovely characters and an easy read, with a little mystery and romance thrown in.

[Cosima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tilly has left her country home to work as a housemother at a home for crippled and orphaned flower girls in 1912 London. She finds her attention drawn to the possessions of a previous housemother, a disabled woman named Florrie. What follows is a tale of sisterhood, loss, and redemption as the story moves back and forth in time between a newly confident Tilly and a young, heartbroken Forrie.

The beginning of "A Memory of Violets" was confusing because of the constant switching around from character to article to other character, etc. It eventually settled down and although I never truly felt connected to these characters, it was easy to follow their developments.

From early on in the story the author hints at the answers to the mysteries and I found myself wishing she'd either say it outright or just hold it back. It's frustrating as a reader to see so many coincidences leading to obvious conclusions, while the book pushes on at the same slow pace as if the reader is supposed to be as surprised as the characters by what's unfolding. Also, prepare yourself for the flowery flourishes. I don't want to go into detail but let's just say that flowers are ever-present even outside of the work that the flower girls do and it's... overdone. The supernatural touch didn't help.

I did find the brief romantic aspect of the book to be charming. The ending was unusual and I liked the way things played out at the very end. The afterward explains the interesting real-life inspiration behind this "A Memory of Violets".

Overall "A Memory of Violets" is a fine light historical fiction read.

[Esra · Rating 5 out of 5]

👭Hiçbir arkadaş yerini doldurmaz bir kız kardeşin,
Hava ister fırtınalı olsun ister sakin;
Canın sıkkınsa seni neşelendirir,
Biri yoldan çıkarsa diğeri gidip getirir,
Biri tökezlerse diğer tutup kaldırır,
Biri destek verirse diğeri kuvvet kazanır.👭

Aynı zamanda hem içinizi ısıtan hem de kalplerinizi burkan bir kitap çiçekçi kızların hikâyesi... Çok beğendim.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel Gaynor, delivers a poignant and heartwarming tale, A MEMORY OF VIOLETS; A NOVEL OF LONDON’S FLOWER SELLERS, written in magical lyrical-like prose featuring Tilly, Flora, and Rosie, connected by life, history, love, time, tragedy, and a special love of flowers.

From the author of The Girl Who Came Home comes an unforgettable historical novel that tells the story of two long-lost sisters, orphaned flower sellers, and a young woman who is transformed by their experiences.

Set in the late 1800s-early 1900s, we learn of the poverty and wealth of the era. Two young orphaned girls, flower sellers in London, ages eight and four. The poor girls lead a heartbreaking life. Their mother died and their father is abusive, and beats them if they do not bring in enough money from their flower sales. The flowers are a means of survival and many of the flower girls are homeless, blind, crippled and disabled.

On one tragic day, Flora gets separated from her younger sister, Rosie. Flora is heartbroken, scared and afraid for her little sister, as she is responsible for her. She has let her down. How will her little sister survive? She will never stop searching for her. "For little sister... I will never stop looking for you."

Rosie ends up hiding in the carriage of a wealthy woman, who took pity on the poor child and eventually convinced her husband to raise the child as their own. Flora finds refuge working and living with other young girls who makes flowers.

Alfred Shaw is a caring and wealthy man, altruistic with extraordinary insights. He sets up a business as a means to help those less fortunate by creating homes, jobs, and when old enough, taught how to make beautiful fabric flowers. He gets them off the streets; responsible for changing lives for the better; supportive of the girls, with his endeavor— offering them a chance at life.

With new opportunities, a safe home, and a means of making a living; in a world they would not have otherwise. A place and work they can be proud of. Even the wealthy such as the Queen Alexandra orders from the business, with flowers sold throughout London to other rich and famous, while raising money for the poor.

In a parallel narrative, Tilly, another young woman is escaping a home life, (she has a powerful story), now a housemother at one of the homes. She has a very intriguing past, which connects towards the end of the book.

Flashing back and forth alternating between Flora, a young Irish girl whose mother dies and is left in the care of her drunken father; responsible for her four year old sister, Rosie. After she gets away from her she is frantic and spends the rest of her life guilt ridden in search of her little sister.

From the poverty stricken, disabled, and poor conditions of the time, we learn more of Tilly’s past and journal entries by Flora, and many of the young girls, as Flora hopes one day to be reunited with her sister.

A realistic portrayal of life in the late 1800s with vivid sweet smelling roses, posies, violets, and watercress at Covenant Garden’s flower markets, to 1912, with Tilly where she is working as a housemother's assistant in one of Mr. Shaw's Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls. This is where she discovers a journal written by a former resident, Flora, and tries to find out what happened to the two sisters.

The audiobook was mesmerizing, narrated by Nicola Barber. I fell in love with Barber’s accent and was captivated by the emotion she portrayed, in perfect sync with the author. Readers will connect with the girls, their disabilities, distinctive voices, their tragedies, love, and their stories as they unfold with even pacing, rich in character- stealing your heart.

The author’s extensive research is impeccable, as she delves into the disparity of the wealthy and impoverished coexisting in Victorian London, bringing history to life! Highly recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction.

Look for The Girl From the Savoy , Coming June 7, 2016. (5 stars)

If you loved A MEMORY OF VIOLETS, recommend reading: The Letter by Kathryn Hughes, and

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

9 CDs 10 1/2 hours
I enjoyed listening to the unabridged audiobook A Memory of Violets:A Novel of London's Flower Sellers by Hazel Gaynor & performed by Nicola Barber.
This historical novel tells the story of two long-lost sisters - orphaned flower sellers - and a young woman who is transformed by their experiences.

1876. Among the filth and depravity of Covent Garden's flower markets, orphaned Irish sisters Flora and Rosie Flynn sell posies of violets and watercress to survive. It is a pitiful existence, made bearable only by each other's presence. When they become separated, the decision of a desperate woman sets their lives on very different paths.

1912. Twenty-one-year-old Tilly Harper leaves the peace and beauty of her native Lake District for London to become assistant housemother at one of Mr. Shaw's Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls. For years, the homes have cared for London's orphaned and crippled flower girls, getting them off the streets. For Tilly, the appointment is a fresh start, a chance to leave her troubled past behind.

Soon after she arrives at the home, Tilly finds a notebook belonging to Flora Flynn. Hidden between the pages she finds dried flowers and a heartbreaking tale of loss and separation as Flora's entries reveal how she never stopped looking for her lost sister. Tilly sets out to discover what happened to Rosie - but the search will not be easy. Full of twists and surprises, it leads the caring and determined young woman into unexpected places, including the depths of her own heart.
4.5stars