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.

Chevalier is known for historical novels, most notably Girl With A Pearl Earring. This is of that calibre. In fact, the plot construction; in some senses very similar to that book. In 15th century Venice, Orsola is the daughter of a glass worker. When her Father dies in an accident, she becomes one herself to feed the family and it follows her lives and loves throughout the years.

It’s fair to say that this is an efficient, well-written historical novel. Chevalier’s plain, open, storytelling suits a narrative better than most historical novels, which try to copy the style of the period. However, this can often be frustrating as the dialogue shifts into Italian slang (the glossary at the back is useful). On the upside, I can now swear like a Venetian gondolier.

The problem with the novel is its big idea: when Orsola works with glass, time slows down (cheekily compared with reading a book). As a result, she lives through war, revolution, two plagues and a Venice at the sharp end of global warming. That is a hugely original idea, but the fact that it is inferred, rather than explained is a structural problem. One historical character turns up and the use of more could have made the narrative more expansive. Also, our sense of who the characters are changes with the passage of time and that is another issue with it.

In conclusion, this is a better than historical novel than most, but with a bigger, richer narrative suggested. It’s published in the UK by Harper Collins on 12th September and I thank them for a preview copy. #theglassmaker.

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.