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The Women in Black

Main Genre
Women's Fiction Women's Fiction
Rating
Pages
256

About This Book

"The book I most often give as a gift to cheer people up." —Hilary Mantel * "Tart, beguiling, witty and compassionate...a literary boost for the spirits." —Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air * "A deceptively smart comic gem." –The New York Times Book Review * "Witty and delicious." –People

The women in black, so named for the black frocks they wear while working at Goode's department store, are busy selling ladies' dresses during the holiday rush. But they somehow find time to pursue other goals…

Patty, in her mid-thirties, has been working at Goode's for years. Her husband, Frank, eats a steak for dinner every night, watches a few minutes of TV, and then turns in. Patty yearns for a baby, but Frank is always too tired for that kind of thing.

Sweet, unlucky Fay wants to settle down with a nice man, but somehow nice men don't see her as marriage material.

Glamorous Magda runs the high-end gowns department. A Slovenian émigré, Magda is cultured and continental and hopes to open her own boutique one day.

Lisa, a clever and shy teenager, takes a job at Goode's during her school break. Lisa wants to go to university and dreams of becoming a poet, but her father objects to both notions.

By the time the last marked-down dress is sold, all of their lives will be forever changed.

A pitch-perfect comedy of manners set during a pivotal era, and perfect for fans of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Women in Black conjures the energy of a city on the cusp of change and is a testament to the timeless importance of female friendship.

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Paperback

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Trade Paperback
May 2013 Text Classics ISBN 192192229X
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Trade Paperback
Feb 2020 Scribner ISBN 1982134089
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Hardcover

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Hardcover
Dec 1993 Andre Deutsch Ltd ISBN 0233988092
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eBook

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eBook
May 2012 The Text Publishing Company ISBN 1921921897
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May 2012 Abacus ISBN 0748127232
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May 2012 Text Publishing ISBN B007CAJZOS
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Feb 2020 Scribner ISBN 1982134097
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Audio

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Audible
Aug 2009 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd ISBN B0081UHOXC
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Feb 2011 Playaway ISBN 174214473X
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Playaway
Jan 2012 Bolinda Publishing ISBN 1742852165
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Sep 2012 Bolinda Audio ISBN 1743139144
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Sep 2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty, Limited ISBN 1743181205
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Sep 2012 Bolinda Audio ISBN 1743139020
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Sep 2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty, Limited ISBN 1743181086
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Dec 2015 Bolinda Audio ISBN 148908231X
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Aug 2022 Simon & Schuster Audio ISBN 1797148540
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Large Print

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Hardcover
Dec 1994 Ulverscroft Large Print ISBN 0708932118
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