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TL;DR: In Sydney in 1959, the saleswomen of a grand department store wear black dresses as they sell elegant clothes during the busy end-of-year season. Shy school-leaver Lisa takes a temporary job in the cocktail dress department. Through her eyes and those of her colleagues, the novel follows small changes in love, friendship and freedom, as postwar Australia begins to change.
Table of Contents
The Women in Black at a Glance
| Author | Madeleine St John |
| First published | 1993 |
| Type | Literary fiction |
| Best for | readers who want a warm, witty novel about women's lives and a changing city |
The Women in Black is the first novel by Australian writer Madeleine St John, published in 1993. It was adapted into the 2018 film Ladies in Black. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes mild discussion of infertility and loneliness.
Main Characters
- Lisa (Lesley Miles): A bright, shy girl who takes a temporary job.
- Magda: A glamorous Slovenian refugee who runs the Model Gowns department.
- Patty Williams: A saleswoman with a distant husband.
- Fay Baines: A lonely saleswoman hoping for love.
- Rudi: A charming Hungarian man.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
The store
At Goode's department store, the women in the Ladies' Cocktail Frocks department wear black dresses and are rushed off their feet in the holiday sales season. Lisa, who has just finished school, joins as a temporary assistant. She is clever and dreams of going to university, but her father thinks it is a waste for a girl.
Magda
Lisa is drawn to Magda, who runs the elegant Model Gowns department. Magda, a refugee from Slovenia, is stylish, kind and confident. She sees Lisa's potential and helps her with clothes and confidence. Magda introduces Lisa to her husband Stefan and their circle of European friends, who show her a wider world of food, music and conversation.
Patty and Fay
Patty is married to Frank, who is shy and finds it hard to show affection. She longs for a child. Frank suddenly leaves home for a while, and Patty is hurt and confused. Fay, another saleswoman, wants love and marriage but keeps meeting the wrong men. Her life changes when Magda introduces her to Rudi, a warm Hungarian man.
Changes
Frank returns, and he and Patty grow closer, and Patty becomes pregnant. Fay and Rudi fall in love. Lisa's exam results arrive: she has won a place at university, and her mother helps persuade her father to let her go. Lisa begins to see herself as an adult with choices.
The end of the season
As the sales season ends, Lisa leaves Goode's. Magda offers her a future job, and Lisa starts university. The women's lives have all shifted a little: some toward love, some toward independence. The novel ends with a gentle sense that Sydney, and its women, are entering a new age.
5 Key Takeaways
- Small changes can transform lives.
- Friendship across cultures enriches everyone.
- Women's ambitions deserve support.
- Love can appear when least expected.
- Clothes can express identity.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- A mentor can open a whole new world.
- Kindness and humor make ordinary days special.
- Social change often begins in everyday places.
Who Should Read The Women in Black?
Read The Women in Black if you enjoy gentle, witty novels, historical settings and stories about women's friendships. It suits adults and older teens.
About Madeleine St John
Madeleine St John (1941–2006) was an Australian-born writer who lived in London for most of her life. The Women in Black was her first novel, published when she was 52. Her novel The Essence of the Thing was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1997, making her the first Australian woman shortlisted for the prize. Her other books include A Pure Clear Light.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of The Women in Black:
- How does Magda help Lisa grow?
- What does the novel say about immigrants in 1950s Australia?
- How do the women's lives change by the end?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether The Women in Black is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of The Women in Black, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
Yes. It is short, charming and warm.
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What to Read Next
- The Essence of the Thing by Madeleine St John: a sharp novel about a breakup
- Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín: a young woman's new life in a new city
- The Ladies' Paradise by Émile Zola: life inside a grand department store
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Women in Black about?
Saleswomen at a Sydney department store in 1959 find small changes in love and freedom.
Who wrote it?
Madeleine St John, in 1993.
Where is it set?
Sydney, Australia, in 1959.
Who is Lisa?
A school-leaver who works at the store and dreams of university.
Who is Magda?
A stylish refugee who runs the Model Gowns department.
Is there a film?
Yes, Ladies in Black (2018), directed by Bruce Beresford.
Is it funny?
Yes, gently and wittily.
What age is it for?
Adults and older teens.
How long is it?
About 230 pages.
Is it a historical novel?
It is set in 1959 and captures the period.
Did the author write other books?
Yes, three more novels.
Is it a quick read?
Yes, it is short and easy to read.
Who will enjoy The Women in Black most?
Readers who like gentle, character-driven stories and vivid pictures of everyday life in the past.
Is The Women in Black worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for readers who want a warm, witty novel about women's lives and a changing city. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.