The Glassmaker by Tracy ChevalierSynopsis: “From the bestselling historical novelist, a rich, transporting story that follows a family of glassmakers from the height of Renaissance-era Italy to present day. It is 1486 and Venice is a wealthy, opulent center for trade. Orsola Rosso is the eldest daughter in a family of glass-blowers in Murano, the island revered for the craft. As a woman, she is not meant to work with glass—but she has the hands for it, the heart, and a vision. When her father dies, she teaches herself to make beads in secret, and her work supports the Rosso family fortunes. Skipping like a stone through the centuries, in a Venice where time moves as slowly as molten glass, we follow Orsola and her family as they live through creative triumph and heartbreaking loss, from a plague devastating Venice to Continental soldiers stripping its palazzos bare, from the domination of Murano and its maestros to the transformation of the city of trade into a city of tourists. In every era, the Rosso women ensure that their work, and their bonds, endure. Chevalier is a master of her own craft, and The Glassmaker is as inventive as it is spellbinding: a mesmerising portrait of a woman, a family, and a city that are as everlasting as their glass.”

My Review

What a gorgeous book! I’m so pleased I finally got around to reading this, as it’s definitely one of my favourites this year! 

I loved this time skipping story about Venice, and the glassmakers of Murano, one of the islands. I liked Orsola Rosso, the main character and loved how Venice and Murano changed through the centuries, through the eyes of the Rosso family and their glassmaking business.

It was a really fascinating read, and very clever how the family aged very slowly through the time. I loved the history of Venice and glassmaking as well. It makes me want to visit Venice again and to go to Murano as well.

I don’t always enjoy Tracy Chevalier’s books, but I definitely want to give her books another chance, and can even see myself reading this one again.

Highly recommended if you enjoy historical fiction set in and around Venice.