The Glassmaker

Tracy Chevalier is one of the best writers of historical fiction currently working and her latest, The Glassmaker, is no disappointment. Centred around Murano, the island which produces most of the glass that Venice is famed for, the story stretches over 6 centuries but retains the same central characters throughout.

Orsola is part of the Rosso family of glassmakers and becomes involved herself as the maker of glass beads to help the family economically. Chevalier uses the very clever plot device of imagining time working differently in Murano, with the image of a stone skimming down on water at different points in times which are particularly significant to the area, such as the height of Venice’s trading past, the arrival of the plague, Napoleon, the First World War and Covid. The same family are there and hardly aging between any of the events and it’s a beautiful way of expressing how the craft has stayed largely unchanged over the centuries and despite whatever is happening around it.

The detail given of how the glassmaking is carried out is perfectly balanced, very informative but never getting bogged down. Tracy Chevalier does so much research but also seems to actively try the craft herself and that really adds to the knowledge displayed. All the characters and relationships are well developed and feel real, with nobody either entirely perfect or completely flawed. The women are particularly strong and resourceful, taking centre stage for most of the book and adapting to what is happening around them in whatever way they can to ensure their family survives.

As always, Chevalier’s writing is beautiful and you’re completely transported to the place and various times. I loved this book, it really did feel like flowing through the waves of time to somewhere that is so different to anywhere else and where anything seems possible. Truly wonderful.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I've enjoyed a number of Chevalier's previous novels and this one was no exception. I loved the exploration of the history of glass making in the Venetian lagoon (I learned a huge amount) and the setting was well evoked, practically leaping off the page. Characterisation was multi dimensional and I relished seeing character arcs develop over centuries amidst the ever changing Venice. I was totally immersed in this novel and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is another Tracy Chevalier blockbuster of a book. It follows the life of a woman from a glassmaking family on the island of Murano. Orsola learns from a woman in another family how to make glass beads, which are looked down on by her family but bring in necessary money when times are hard. Chevalier plays with the timeline in an interesting way, so that Orsola and her immediate family and close connections seem to live through hundreds of years of time as perceived the world 'outside' her little island community and the parts of Venice she visits. The characters are fully formed and credible and the lives of both men and women in the glassmaking families are well told, as is their dependence on the merchant who commissions and sells their work. As always, this story is well researched and beautifully told and I highly recommend it.

Another beautifully crafted historical masterpiece by Tracy Chevalier who is writing at the top of her form.

Venice and Murano come to life through the decades and centuries and are perhaps the real heroes of this incredible family saga. Not only are the main characters depicted so beautifully and painstakingly but so is their craft and I learned and enjoyed so much about both beads and glass.

There is a truly original literary device employed regarding the aging of the main characters which works quite brilliantly and this is a wonderful book surely bound for fully deserved critical acclaim.

I have always been fascinated by the world of crafts displayed in Tracy Chevalier's novels. Always a different craft, always masterfully woven in the storyline fitting perfectly the plot. This novel is no exception! Even though the time setting is a bit different as it spreads over centuries, with the same characters who grow older but only by a few years instead of centuries. It may seem strange but it worked perfectly: the psychological development of the characters exactly fit the new time period they live in. This enables the reader to follow a (as any) family of glassmakers along with the marking social, political events which affected their craft over the years. No need to create a new set of characters. Very impressive! As for the characters themselves, they are so finely depicted, you can see , hear them. What I also really enjoyed and seems to be characteristic for the author, is the description of the settings, here Venice. Venice is vividly painted along with its own (social, political, architectural)development through the centuries. This was fascinating! I highly recommend this novel!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

In "The Glassmaker," Tracey Chevalier skillfully weaves together different time periods while keeping the characters at a consistent age. This approach offers a captivating exploration of identity and history, prompting readers to reflect on how individuals maintain their core selves amidst changing circumstances. Chevalier's unique narrative technique adds depth to the story, making it both engaging and thought-provoking. I loved it for its creativity and the way it seamlessly blended historical fiction with character-driven storytelling.

Wow! Yet another wonderful book. I have always been a fan of Tracey’s work but I think The Glassmaker is the best one yet. A quirky time travel background mixed with realistic characters make for a great read.

What a beautiful book cover, taking you immediately into a world set on water. It's a fascinating, timeless story of the Rossi family, living in Venice in or around 1486. Orsola Rossi flouts all the rules and works secretly as a glassmaker, not normally allowed as a woman's career.. We move with her through the centuries, learning of love and loss, plague and war, and triumph. It is a vividly written book that keeps you wondering what can possibly happen next.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book.