I've enjoyed some of Tracy Chevalier's novels in the past but really struggled with this novel, which follows the fortunes of a female glassmaker from the Rosso family on Murano.
Her ability to transport you into certain eras and to describe complicated processes are expertly done but, for me, the narrative plodded, with more telling than showing.
The device of showing the same characters through the centuries, hardly ageing, didn't work for me, as there was no reference to this in their everyday lives, apart from a omnipresent narrator at the beginning of each section. It seemed forced, artificial, and I think it would have been much more interesting, readable and brave if she had followed the dynasty generation by generation or gone the whole hog and done a Matt Haig-type How To Stop Time treatment.

I was totally gripped by "The Glassmaker" by Tracy Chevalier. I feel as if this will be a big hit when it comes out and it has all the qualities that would make a great film too. Ok, there are some marmite elements in the book - the book spans 500 years yet we stick with the same characters throughout. I loved this element but can easily understand that it might be off-putting to others. The author invites the reader to imagine a stone skimmed across the lagoon and each time it touches the water, we drop in on Orsola and her family and friends and see how life as glassmakers has changed. However, it is a love letter to Murano and glassmaking techniques over the centuries. I was totally immersed and have a new-found respect for artisanal families.

This is a fascinating account of glass making on the island of Murano, just outside of Venice, set initially in the 15th Century when the book begins. Orsola Rosso and her family are glasss makers, and thanks to the author's research, we learn much about the industry and its repercussions on the lives of the Muranese.
At the start of each chapter, we are invited to imagine a stone being skimmed across the water to Venice; and each skim has the background moving forward into new centuries, a clever literary device. The Rosso family do not progress in the same way as Venetian time, and only age a few years at each progression. So there is the impact of each successive time element upon the family and their lives, and in particular that of Orsolo, a female glass bead maker, at times when women were not supposed to be involved in the industry.
I enjoy historical fiction and I was fascinated by the descriptions of Murano and the history of glass making; and could visual some of it, having visited Venice and Murano. And terrafirma too, as the mainland is called. I also enjoyed translating the Italian phrases with the help of the glossary at the end.
I'm not sure the time changes worked for me. Although I enjoyed the story, the plots, the characters, I I did find the different times slightly frustrating especially as the central family didn't move forward. Time alla Venezia was supposedly very different to time on Murano and on terrafirma! But it wasn't bad enough to detract from the overall enjoyment of the book and I was sad to finish it.
Many thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC of this book; all views are my own.

Really disappointing read. A very interesting topic and I did learn some things about glassmaking in murano and I’m definitely more aware of glass!
Unfortunately the characters were stereotypes and I couldn’t get involved in their lives. A struggle to finish

Tracy Chevalier needs no introduction, such is her acknowledged ability to convey a convincing narrative in her highly successful historical fiction novels. In The Glassmaker Ms Chevalier deploys an unusual plot device that enables a span of centuries to be encompassed within the evolving story, but focusing on characters who age only slowly over the period, rather than the more conventional story told through successive generations. In this reviewer’s opinion this is more effective in the earlier centuries and, perhaps less so as the novel approaches the present day. However, such is the skill and fluency of the author’s writing that the overall effect is successful and clever without feeling as contrived as would be the case from a less successful author.
Recommended.

If you are prepared to take this novel as it comes, it is a real treat. Tracy Chevalier does historical fiction really well and you can find out a lot about Venice, Murano and glassmaking through the ages through the story of Orsola who ages much more slowly than the world. Not really believable but the author gets away with it because she writes so well. One strength of this book is the Chevalier's solid knowledge of history. Others are the beautiful descriptions and the relatable characters. It provides you with a couple of hours of pleasant reading and you even might find your perspective of Venice slightly changed.

This book follows one family over 500 years. A lovely historical novel set in Murano and Venice it is beautifully written and obviously researched so well. A great read
Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy

This author always delivers original and gripping stories and this is no exception. I love reading about Venice, and here we have a potted history of sorts, intertwined with the story of Murano glassmakers, some of the characters based on real life. We are told to expect an elastic time scale, and we are not to be surprised by the magic of the city of water.
We follow one family through many turbulent times, our heroine falls in love, and must make difficult choices, she takes on glassmaking, a trade reserved for men at the time. Real people from history make an appearance, and through all the times of pestilence and high water, Venice shines, reflected in its waters, resilient and splendid despite the decay and neglect.
It makes me want to go back to other books about La Serenissima, and dip into the magic again.

I was totally immersed in Murano, Venice and the history of glassmaking for four day.s. I loved every second - this is one of those books where you want to savour every sentence. No skim reading needed here. Ms Chevalier always does such thorough research - even learning the art of glassmaking herself and boy does it show. I escaped from the daily stresses life throws at you and was transported to Italy - the islands and terraferma throughout several centuries. This is a totally different approach - no time slip here and no spoilers are going to be given by me. But the author employs a very clever device to depict the changes in glassmaking caused by significant events in history. I found the whole thing fascinating and did not want it to end.. again I am eagerly anticipating this author’s next novel and wonder where I am to be taken to next time. An easy 5 stars from me!

The Glassmaker - Tracy Chevalier for publication 12 Sept 2024

Following one family of glassblowers from the 15th century to the present day this is a fabulous read. But this is not an ordinary family saga as such, this takes the same characters ageing them slowly through the centuries playing with time. They live through the plague, various invasions, financial ruin, floods, better times, war and betrayals. The story is about the whole Rosso family but in particular the women. especially Orsola and her strive to belong to an industry that is predominantly run by men, It is how her determination in the making of glass beads to help her family survive the centuries through good times and bad that takes centre stage.

I found the concept of seeing the same characters through such a long length of time difficult to get my head round. But seeing Venice through the defining years of Venetian and world history made it a fascinating, creative and unputdownable read.

As always with Tracy the extensive research paid off with a beautifully written tale investing you in the characters and making you know and understand Venice as though you truly lived there.

Thank you to Netgalley for a preview copy.

Tracy Chevalier is a brilliant storyteller.
This story tells the history of an extended Murano glassmaking family.
This is the story of glassmaking in Murano and the rest of the world.
This is the story of the history of Venice and its place in the world.
This is the story of various celebrities who visited Venice.
This is the story of the world in the last 500 years or so.
Somehow the author managed all of the above in a highly readable, totally enjoyable way.
I loved everything about the novel, apart from the 'trick' that was used to keep the main protagonist alive for the length of the story.
Lovers of fantasy will love this mechanism too.
Forgiving the author this 'trick' I must say that it worked if the reader can overlook it.
A brilliant story encompassing all of the things listed above.
I could not bring myself to giving this five stars because of my disquiet about the 'trick' but it was really close.
Many thanks to the author for many hours of enjoyment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sorry not for me this one. Struggled to get into it withe smattering of Italian words in it. I’m sure those who love historical fiction are really going to enjoy this! Just not my favourite genre I’m afraid

I have enjoyed reading all Tracy Chevalier novels and this one is no exception. The novel begins in the 1400s and tells the story of Orsola Rosso who is in fact the glassmaker’s daughter and is aged 9 at the start of the book. Chevalier has most unusually written the story from the point of view that time passes and eras pass but the main characters only age very slowly. Consequently the novel goes right up to the last few years and even includes the Covid pandemic with Orsola still alive. She experiences both the Plague and Covid and readers can compare the two epidemics and how they were dealt with according to the time in which they happened.
I wasn’t sure how this was going to work and would it be confusing to the reader but after realising what was happening after the first time jump I thought the idea worked really well. It’s a very novel way of telling a story.
The very first sentence of the book is - “If you skim a flat stone skilfully across water, it will touch down many times, in long or short intervals as it lands. With that image in mind, now replace water with time”. This perfectly sums up what she does in the book.
The reader learns of the history of glass making in Venice or more particularly in Murano as well as the actual real history of Venice and its islands and how glass making and family life in Venice had to adapt to the changing world situations. I also learnt a great deal about the glass making industry.
Women were not supposed to work at that time in history and Orsola has to learn her craft in secret even though her father and brothers have their own glass business. She is fortunately befriended by an already successful female glass maker who teaches her the craft of bead making which ultimately will help to save the family when times are hard.
All the characters are fully developed these include her mother, her brothers in particular Marco her eldest brother, the love of her life Antonio and the man she eventually marries Stefano and we discover how they too adapt to the passage of time. However only Orsola manages to survive the passage of centuries.
Chevalier’s novels are meticulously researched and give you a real feel of each different era. I particularly liked the addition of real people such as Josephine Bonaparte, and Casanova.
The number of Italian words could be off putting to some readers. Even though there is a glossary provided, having to pause your reading while you look up the word to discover the meaning can break up the flow of reading. I can speak basic Italian but some of the Venetian words were a problem.
Italy has always been one of my favourite countries and I love historical novels so this book was the perfect read for me.

In this novel we follow Orsola Rosso who is the eldest daughter in a glass making family on Murano. Starting in the 1400s we follow her and her family through their lives and through history. We watch Orsola argue with her brother Marco the head of the family and the glass studio, as she falls in love with Antonio as he learns to make glass, her cautious friendships with Domenego the gonolier and merchant's daughter Klara.

We also watch the family as plague arrives in Venice and spreads to Murano, as the fashion for glass changes and the family struggles to adapt, the beads that Orsola continues to make change in style and value and popularity, she meets Casanova, Napoleon's destruction of Europe and the decline of Venice, how tourism rather than trade takes over and finally how floods and covid affect the Rosso family. While this isn't a time travel novel it is a slip in time - how one family in one place would see history change them if they lived over 500 years and barely aged.

The history of glass making, the changes in trade and fashion, the changing value of women's work - all is depicted in this novel through Orsola. She is our guide through glass and it is an enjoyable journey.

A gripping tale of glass and family in and around Murano. This is a true page turner filled with vivid details of creativity and relationships over the years.. A book both intensely personal and informative. I couldn't put it down.

'The Glassmaker' is the new book from Tracy Chevalier, author of 'Girl with a Pearl Earring', and is due to be published this September.

It too belongs to the genre of historical fiction beginning in Venice in 1486. The story follows a family of glassmakers on the island of Murano. With plagues, floods, and fierce competition the family are tested and it is one of the daughters, Orsola, who pivots into beadmaking. Her determination to succeed in a trade market dominated by the maestros and merchants (males), as well as her unfaltering commitment to the family, make for a fascinating story. The book's greatest achievement, in fact, is its representation of strong women.

What is less convincing though is the time-skipping at the beginning of each chapter. As a trope it does project the narrative forward but is far too forced, in my opinion.

This ARC was gifted to me in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to @netgalley and @HarperCollinsUK for this ARC. 1486 - The Rosso family are one of a handful of glassmakers on the island of Murano. Orsolo's dad and Maestro of their family glassmaking business dies and it is up to the oldest son to take over the trade. While trying to find their footing, Orsolo visits a wise woman in the trade and she learns to make beads with lampwork. As time evolves, so does the family - it grows, they see business ebb and flow with the political climate and plagues. I so enjoyed this book. Hearing that each family's trade secret was illegal if taken off the island. Murano glass is special and specific. Also, the heirarchy was just as prevalent here as most glasswork was sent through a third party buyer/seller as Venice was a prominent trade group. The only odd thing about this book was that Orsolo was the storyteller but each chapter was a new era in the world, Venice and their family's life. She lived technically from 1486 to present day. I enjoyed reading how glassmkaing has evolved over the last several hundred years but not from the same person's point of view. However, I highly recommend this book! #TheGlassmaker #TracyChevalier #HarperCollinsUK #Sept2024

Thoroughly enjoyed this. The way the passage of time was presented compared to how the characters aged was unusual and I think could’ve been quite jarring but was handled beautifully and I enjoyed seeing how the characters grew and developed during each time period. This was clearly a well researched book and the well thought out descriptions of glass making added to its authenticity. Beautifully written, strong characters.

I loved this! Once I got used to the strange passing of time and just ran with the story I became totally invested in Orsola and her family.

This was a richly descriptive and very evocative read. As a keen crafter I was fascinated by the glass and bead making and looked up a lot of the work and places. I was completely immersed in the story, I was living on Murano alongside the Rossos and mourned their losses keenly. I found the plague storyline very moving especially as I know this was written during covid. And the dolphins - my heart.

Another brilliant, and slightly unexpected, read.

Beautiful story of the glassmakers of Murano, it’s my favourite glass having visited the factory in my teenage years however knew nothing about its history or how the glass was made so this was a fascinating story. The book is based around the Rosso family over the years, sad in many places but captures the ethos of the glass making families. An eye opener in many ways with some lovely characters working their way through the most difficult of times. An ending that I really wasn’t expecting was a bonus.

I found the glossary that explained the use and translation of so many Italian phrases used throughout the book would have been helpful at the beginning of the book rather than at the end.

Overall a fascinating read…be prepared to go off to Google to find out more about the history of this amazing island and its people and customs!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review