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| The Glassmaker by Tracy Chavalier |
I love reading historical fiction and Tracy Chavalier is one of my favorite authors. This book takes place in Venice and the areas around it and since I've been to Venice it made this book extra special for me. As they were describing various places in Venice I could picture just where they were talking about. The author makes the characters come alive in this book which makes it a very compelling book to read.
Story Summary
The author takes an interesting take on the timelessness of Venice in this book. In the first paragraph of each chapter she takes on a timeline of Venice through the years starting in 1486 and ending in present day. In the rest of each chapter we follow Orsola Rosso, a woman who has grown up in a glassmaking family in Murano, just a gondolier ride away from Venice.
In Orsola's time woman were meant to be helpers in the business, but never actual glassmakers. In order to help her family in a time of need Orsola learns to make glass beads in secret.
Venice in 1486 is a very wealthy and an opulent center for trade. As time flows through the years Venice suffers through plagues and wars and eventually turns in to more of a tourist destination than a trade center.
In this book we follow the Rosso family through good times and bad. We see life through the eyes of Orsola and view her pains and triumphs as she deals with deaths, births, and changes in the glassmaking business.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Book on Amazon
The Glassmaker is available on Amazon in Hardback, Paperback, Audiobook or eBook. The Glassmaker
Reviews of Andriana Trigiani Books
If you enjoy historical fiction you may enjoy this book. Here is a book I reviewed by Adriana Trigiani.
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I, too, enjoy reading books based in places I've been. Always makes the story seem so much more real somehow. The Glassmaker sounds like a fascinating story to read. Thanks so much for your recommendation, Mary Beth.
ReplyDeleteI do love a great historical fiction and Italy is certainly a fabulous setting for a book. No doubt, there have been a lot of women who did the work that were forced to stay in the background or shadows to sell their work. I don't own any glass beads, but I do have several intricate glass figurines. I marvel at anyone's ability to make and/or shape glass.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I took a glass bead making course in Tuscany during our honeymoon, and I love good historical fiction, so I’m sure I would enjoy this book. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteI'm putting this one on my To Read List right now. Thanks Mary Beth!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really good read, a historical fiction where the author makes the characters come to life and set in Venice with glassmaking. It sounds intriguing to follow Orsola and see all the changes in life through her eyes. I would enjoy this book.
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