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The Glassmaker

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The Glassmaker

By: Tracy Chevalier
Narrated by: Juliet Aubrey
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Summary

'Spellbinding' ELIF SHAFAK

'Ingenious' THE TIMES, Book of the Year

'Sparkling' OBSERVER

'A triumph' PHILIP PULLMAN

'As finely wrought as a dazzling Murano bead' INDEPENDENT

'Meticulously researched and evoking the beauty of the Venice lagoon’ PHILIPPA GREGORY

‘A spectacular feat, crafted by a maestra at the top of her game’ SPECTATOR

FROM THE GLOBALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING

Venice, 1486.

Across the lagoon lies Murano. Time flows differently here – like the glass the island’s maestros spend their lives perfecting.

In secret, Orsola Rosso learns to craft glass. As a woman, she must flout convention to save her family from ruin. We follow her through hundreds of years of war and plague, tragedy and triumph, love and loss.

Skipping like a stone across the centuries, The Glassmaker is a virtuoso portrait of a woman, a family and a city that are as everlasting as glass.

©2024 Tracy Chevalier (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers Coming of Age Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Magical Realism Heartfelt War

Critic Reviews

'A triumph… a brilliant idea carried out with confidence and brio and a deep love of an extraordinary city. The ingenuity of the time-skipping is beyond admiration' PHILIP PULLMAN
'Spellbinding…. Chevalier at her fabulous best. A rich, vivid and gently enchanting novel' ELIF SHAFAK
'Ingenious… an absorbing story' THE TIMES, Book of the Year
‘Sparkling… a triumph of craft’ OBSERVER
‘A spectacular feat, crafted by a maestra at the top of her game’ SPECTATOR
'As finely wrought as a dazzling Murano bead… reaffirm[s Chevalier's] status as one of the reigning queens of historical fiction' INDEPENDENT
'A time-skipping Venetian tour de force' GUARDIAN
'Meticulously researched and evoking the beauty of the Venice lagoon, the story challenges and transports the reader through time and place' PHILIPPA GREGORY
'One of our great period novelists' iNews
'Combining her storytelling gifts with her love of Venice, Chevaier has produced a memorable addition to her oeuvre’ SUNDAY TIMES, Nick Rennison
'Chevalier weaves a magical thread through this extraordinary city’s history. A masterpiece' WOMAN & HOME
'Truly remarkable and richly enjoyable… very clever' SCOTSMAN
‘Reaffirms Chevalier’s skill in crafting engaging, evocative historical tales’ GLAMOUR
‘Evocative’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
‘Mythical’ CANDIS
‘Beautiful’ PRIMA
‘This inventive portrait of a woman and her city is mesmerising’ PLATINUM
'This charming fable is at once a love story that skips through six centuries, and also a love song to the timeless craft of glassmaking. Chevalier probes the fierce rivalries and enduring loyalties of Murano's glass dynasties, capturing the roar of the furnace, the sweat on the skin, and the glittering beauty of Venetian glass' GERALDINE BROOKS
'Chevalier, one of our great storytellers, brings us unexpected worlds' AMY BLOOM
'Tracy Chevalier pens a novel as ambitious, audacious, and artistic as a Venetian glass goblet… The Glassmaker is a thing of beauty' KATE QUINN
All stars
Most relevant
I enjoyed the narration very much and the storyline was a great insight into Murano glass and it's history.

Beautiful Venice

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The characters and Italian accents are absorbing. I loved Orsola and the other strong women in the book.

Beautiful narrative to transport you to Venice!

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The descriptions of Venice and Munaro through the years was wonderful. The Rosso family came alive through Orsolo. Great detail to a craft over 500 years.
Loved it, another brilliant book from Tracy Chivalier.

Historic beautifully crafted book

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I always enjoy Tracy Chevalier’s work and this one is also great. However the narrator whispers the whole story. Good if you listen when you’re trying to fall asleep but not so great otherwise . Her Italian accent was spot on however.

Interesting story , not so great narration

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I was initially put off by the idea that time would jump but not for the characters, but it was actually a wonderful device that allowed you to trace the historical evolution of Venice and the larger world, whilst also tracing the life path of the Rosso family. And as someone who collects glass in all its forms, the story of the glass industry of Murano was fascinating. And the ending was unexpected but just so right. Loved this story, and it was beautifully narrated.

A novel take on the family saga

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