Autumn 1917 After three grueling years in the field hospital behind the trenches, surgeon Alistair MacEwen has collapsed completely and is taken to a nearby chateau to recover. In the summer of 1926 he returns to France to visit the woman who took care of him, Ghislaine. In her life, the war has left deep traces as well. Soon after his arrival, it turns out that this reunion has far-reaching consequences for both of them and will change their lives forever. 'Embroidering in the dark' tells the equally gripping as endearing story of ordinary people overcoming extraordinary circumstances. With careful attention, a keen eye for detail and deep psychological insight, Dutch historian Juul Martin Williams relates one of the major turning points in human history, the Great War