The Glassmaker
by Tracy Chevalier
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier is set in Venice over the centuries, in particular the island of Murano. This is a really pleasant way to learn a bit about glassmaking and Murano, and about the history of Venice. It’s also a love story and a reflection on the passing of time, which may bring a tear to your eye. Chevalier is really good at telling a story and the pages zip by.
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“Glass was a really important trade for Venice…I wanted to write about glass beads, because they were one of the few things that women did make. The thing I loved is that they made them at their kitchen tables, over a little lamp. I just imagined a woman doing that, and she became Orsola, my heroine. Over the course of centuries, she learns to become a really good beadmaker, a maestra…I was curious about Venice, this wealthy center of trade in the 15th century, becoming what it is now. I think most people don’t really know why and how that happened, me included, so I wanted to cover that whole sweep. Also, the fact that it takes that long for women to finally be accepted in glassmaking.” Read more...
Historical Novels Set in Italy
Tracy Chevalier, Historical Novelist
