
By Her Own Design
A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register
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Narrated by:
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Tracey Conyer Lee
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By:
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Piper Huguley
About this listen
The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America's most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy.
1953, New York City
Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.
1918, Tampa
Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.
Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.
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Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen
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- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
- Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Powerful, epic, and compelling, Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen shines light on a nearly forgotten figure in history. Cathy Williams was born and lived a slave - until the Union army comes and destroys the only world she’s known. Separated from her family, she makes the impossible decision - to fight in the army disguised as a man with the Buffalo Soldiers. With courage and wit, Cathy must not only fight for her survival and freedom in the ultimate man’s world, but never give up on her mission to find her family, and the man she loves.
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A Missed Opportunity
- By M Jones on 11-01-18
By: Sarah Bird
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The Garden of Lost Secrets
- By: Kelly Bowen
- Narrated by: Polly Lee, Marisa Calin, Matthew Wolf
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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1940 - Stasia always found comfort in the idyllic French countryside where she spent her childhood summers, roaming the gardens of an old chateau and finding inspiration for fairy tales full of bravery and adventure. But these days are much darker, and with Nazis storming across Europe, she soon finds herself one of the most hunted agents of the Resistance. The only safe haven she can think of is Chateau de Montissaire. But she’s about to discover that it just may be the center of her biggest mission yet.
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Leaned so much about resistance in Normandy
- By paula wright on 08-02-23
By: Kelly Bowen
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Eli's Promise
- A Novel
- By: Ronald H. Balson
- Narrated by: Fred Berman
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Eli's Promise is a masterful work of historical fiction spanning three eras—Nazi-occupied Poland, the American Zone of post-war Germany, and Chicago at the height of the Vietnam War. Award-winning author Ronald H. Balson explores the human cost of war, the mixed blessings of survival, and the enduring strength of family bonds.
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Balson saves us from the full horror
- By Trudy Owens on 10-28-20
By: Ronald H. Balson
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A Likely Story
- A Novel
- By: Leigh McMullan Abramson
- Narrated by: Mia Barron, Cynthia Farrell, James Fouhey, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Growing up in the nineties in New York City as the only child of famous parents was both a blessing and a curse for Isabelle Manning. Her beautiful society hostess mother, Claire, and New York Times bestselling author father, Ward, were the city’s intellectual It couple. Ward’s glamorous obligations often took him away from Isabelle, but Claire made sure her childhood was always filled with magic and love. Now an adult, after many false starts and the unexpected death of her mother, she faces her upcoming thirty-fifth birthday alone and on the verge of a breakdown.
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Cute story
- By Loen Bradford on 01-10-25
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The Two-Family House
- A Novel
- By: Linda Cohen Loigman
- Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Brooklyn, 1947: In the midst of a blizzard, in a two-family brownstone, two babies are born minutes apart to two women. They are sisters by marriage, with an impenetrable bond forged before and during that dramatic night; but as the years progress, small cracks start to appear, and their once deep friendship begins to unravel. No one knows why, and no one can stop it. One misguided choice; one moment of tragedy. Heartbreak wars with happiness and almost but not quite wins.
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A Two Family Saga
- By Sara on 08-17-17
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The Address
- A Novel
- By: Fiona Davis
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld, Brittany Pressley
- Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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When a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house the Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibility - no mean feat for a servant in 1884. The opportunity to move to America. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. And the opportunity to see more of Theo, who understands Sara like no one else...and is living in the Dakota with his wife and three young children.
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Should be a movie!
- By Linda Slater on 10-19-17
By: Fiona Davis
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The Lost for Words Bookshop
- A Novel
- By: Stephanie Butland
- Narrated by: Imogen Church
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look carefully, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are some things Loveday will never, ever show you. Into her hiding place - the bookstore where she works - come a poet, a lover, and three suspicious deliveries. Someone has found out about her mysterious past. Will Loveday survive her own heartbreaking secrets?
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I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
- By Tammy on 11-09-18
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The Bookbinder of Jericho
- A Novel
- By: Pip Williams
- Narrated by: Annabelle Tudor
- Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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It is 1914, and as the war draws the young men of Britain away to fight, women must keep the nation running. Two of those women are Peggy and Maude, twin sisters who live on a narrowboat in Oxford and work in the bindery at the university press.
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A superbly narrated insight into women's life on the home front during WW I.
- By Bill Hill on 01-03-24
By: Pip Williams
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Until You
- Friarsgate Inheritance, Book 2
- By: Bertrice Small
- Narrated by: Virginia Leishman
- Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Set in the 16th century, Until You tells the tale of a young heroine who discovers the love of a lifetime. Beautiful Rosamund is introduced to the Earl of Glenkirk, and they immediately fall in love. Their growing passion is stifled, however, when war breaks out between England and Scotland.
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A good story but ...
- By Donna on 12-01-12
By: Bertrice Small
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My Magnolia Summer
- A Novel
- By: Victoria Benton Frank
- Narrated by: Dorothy Dillingham Blue
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Escape to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where family bonds and hidden secrets run deep. In this gripping tale of self-discovery, Victoria Benton Frank introduces us to Maggie, struggling to find her place in the world when she receives a phone call bringing her back to her hometown of Sullivan's Island.
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Yes Yes Yes
- By CBrock on 07-10-23
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Housekeeping (40th Anniversary Edition)
- A Novel (Picador Modern Classics)
- By: Marilynne Robinson
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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A modern classic, Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping is the story of Ruth and her younger sister, Lucille, who grow up haphazardly, first under the care of their competent grandmother, then of two comically bumbling great-aunts, and finally of Sylvie, the eccentric and remote sister of their dead mother. The family house is in the small town of Fingerbone on a glacial lake in the Far West, the same lake where their grandfather died in a spectacular train wreck and their mother drove off a cliff to her death.
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A small and perfect novel
- By martin hall on 03-06-21
What listeners say about By Her Own Design
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- Tanya L Dorf
- 04-07-24
A story that sweeps you away
The story, history, and performance were outstanding. I learned a lot and found myself swept away by the story of Ann Lowe. It’s a story people should have known about for a long time. The performance brought it to life in a way that made me feel like I was watching a movie of the story.
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- Neanabug
- 01-20-24
Beautiful historic novel
This book was referred to me by the women in my book club. We read the book and visited the exhibit of Ms. Lowe's work at the Winterthur Museum (former DuPont home) in Wilmington, Delaware. The story was well-written and easy to follow. I could not stop listening as it approached the last few chapters. The only area of improvement is the narration. The accents in the beginning of the book were odd, not authentically southern. It took some getting used to -- the narrator improved as the story went on. It is a triumphant account of a woman who had soooo many odds against her. Yet in the words of Maya Angelou, "and still I rise". Bits of history, misfortune, and the impact of racism are woven into the narrative that is designer, artist Ann Lowe's life. To top it off with the privilege of seeing her gowns on exhibit was a special treat!
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- Frieda
- 11-10-22
By Her Own Design
What a wonderful book!!! I really enjoyed listening to it!! What a hard life Ann Lowe had. So sad but I think it made her strong. I can’t imagine her sewing all those dresses and especially when she lost an eye! I’m glad I read this book about her!
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- Anonymous User
- 07-27-22
A must read!
Enjoyed this book tremendously!
it is a must read! I recommend this book and would love to know more about Anne Lowe!
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- Emily K.
- 11-14-23
Great book
First time my book club gave five stars all around. What an excellent book and inspiring woman.
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- carol criss
- 02-12-24
An amazing woman
There are so many women, minorities in our country and world who made contributions to our history and yet we knew nothing about their lives. Our history focuses on mainly white men who shaped our world. Anne Lowe is a petite black women who grew up in poverty and yet managed to develop a skill, be a part of our history and show women success is possible if you pursue your dreams amid tough obstacles. A remarkable example of the strength of women. A must read.
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- rararazz
- 08-15-24
Inspiring
Wonderful story of a much overlooked black designer. Glad her story is being told. Loved the ending.
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- Patrice Aitken
- 01-06-23
Admirable Woman
Loved this story of ingenuity, perseverance, extraordinary talent! Ann was a creative genius of whom i was completely unaware and the authors perspective well taken. The narrator was also quite outstanding
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- dixie
- 01-29-23
Designer and seamstress extraordinaire, Ann Lowe
Wonderful novel that keeps the reader engaged. Ann Lowe was a talented dress designer, as well as seamstress. I was interested in reading this as two of my friend’s mothers were the lucky recipients of some of Ann’s gorgeous creations. The book was very enjoyable and it was apparent that the author researched Ann Lowe to write her story.
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- Kristin
- 01-01-23
Great narration, great story.
You need something to listen to when crafting or sewing? Don’t hesitate. This is it. This story is tender, tough and entertaining. Piper Huguley takes us to a world gone by. You’ll enjoy this book about ladies of the 20th century- and whether you relate to the hard working hands that sew or the tough hearts wearing the gowns sewn, is up to you.
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