Books, like people, sometimes demand our attention. As soon as I discovered Tracy Chevalier’s 2024 novel, The Glassmaker, I knew I wanted to read it.
Why?
It offers a rich portrayal of life in Renaissance Venice and the neighboring island Murano
Its focus on a female glassmaker is unique, grabbing my attention
An even more unusual element—the treatment of time— added complexity and sparked my curiosity
Before the novel’s action begins, the author presents an unusual explanation of time. She explains that “Venice and its neighboring islands have always felt frozen in time” to her.
Creators (such as Murano’s glassmakers) often enter into a “flow state,” so absorbed in their work that time passes without their noticing.
So, I shouldn’t have been surprised when this story progressed in an unexpected way.
What persuaded me to continue reading The Glassmaker, given its quirky rendering of time?
The twists and turns in the story of how a woman transcends the cultural norm of glassmaking as a male profession, braving her family’s opposition, yet maintaining her family loyalty
Tracy Chevalier’s reputation as a novelist, (especially from her best-selling The Girl with a Pearl Earring, which came out in 1999)
Major Characters:
Orsola Rosso—protagonist, the impulsive and intelligent daughter of a glassmaking family in Murano
Marco Rosso—Orsola’s oldest brother, always at odds with her; a skilled but lazy glassmaker who likes to try new things with glass; as first-born son, he’s destined to one day take over the family business
Laura Rosso (Madre)—mother of Orsola and her siblings; a dominant woman who exerted her strong will on her family for generations
Lorenzo Rosso (Padre) —father of Orsola and her siblings, maestro of the Rosso glassmaking workshop
Gottfried Klingenberg—German merchant who spent his career in Venice; middleman for Rosso glass sales
Jonas—Klingenberg’s assistant/secretary who aided Orsola’s family
Klara Klingenberg—Gottfried’s daughter; she and Orsola develop an unlikely friendship
Maria Barovier—glassmaker from a rival family on Murano; she pioneers rosetta beads and surprisingly encourages Orsola to create glass beads
Elena Barovier—Maria’s cousin; at Maria’s urging, she teaches Orsola how to make beads
Antonio—Orsola’s love interest, a Venetian fisherman who becomes a skilled glassmaker
Stefano—Orsola’s husband, a glassmaker from a rival workshop
Domenego—enslaved gondolier working for the Klingenberg family; his unique perspective enriches the story
Strengths:
Detailed, authentic descriptions of the glassmaking industry and life in that time and place
The “frozen in time” element allows readers to follow the changes Venice, Murano, and glassmakers experience as history marches through the centuries
Weaknesses:
The “frozen in time” element may confuse readers and pull them out of the story
The large number of Rosso family members can complicate readers’ recollection of where each person belongs on the family tree
Content review:
This novel contains a limited amount of violence and some physical intimacy; mostly off-stage
My Recommendation:
If you love fiction set in the Italian Renaissance, particularly in the Veneto region, as much as I do, and you’re comfortable with the “frozen in time” aspect of the story, you, too, will enjoy The Glassmaker.
Reader, can you recommend other historical novels focused on the glass-making island of Murano?
If you celebrate Passover or Easter, may this be a joyous season for you!
Imagine this: a pandemic strikes. Waves of deadly contagion decimate the community. After months of hopes and false alarms, the outbreak finally subsides.
Sound familiar? Actually, I’m talking about Venice, ravaged by over seventy plague epidemics from the 1300s to 1600s.
After the contagion and deaths end, survivors must decide how to cope. Some lament their losses, others celebrate the return to a new normal life, yet others may find ways to prosper from adversity.
What can we learnfrom Venice’s story?
During or after five distinct episodes of the Plague, Venice’s leaders or private citizens commissioned a new church, either pleading with God to stop an epidemic or thanking God for ending it.
While I don’t advocate bargaining with God, I’m intrigued with the concept of creating something physical to remember significant events. Centuries after these churches were built, they bring to mind the suffering endured by so many, as well as the joy when tragic events ceased, and offer inspiration and beauty to generations of visitors.
Currently, we can’t visit those churches, but we’ll share a view and brief mention of each (from oldest to newest). Enjoy your tour!
San Sebastiano (Venice) Facade; By Didier Descouens – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26195762
In 1468, an older building was converted into a church dedicated to Saint Sebastian, who survived martyrdom by the wounds of arrows, but was later clubbed to death. He was one of the chief patrons against plague and pestilence in Europe.
San Giobbe Church, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Church of San Giobbe was named for the Old Testament Saint Job, due to his many sufferings and hoped-for efficacy against the plague. Construction began in 1450 under architect Antonio Gambello and, after a pause of twenty years, was completed by Pietro Lombardo, with funding from Doge (Leader) Cristoforo Moro. It was finally consecrated in 1493.
Church of San Rocco, Venice
Saint Rocco was renowned for being cured miraculously of a plague bubo that he acquired while attending plague patients. In 1485, Venetians stole his body from Montpelier, France, and brought it to the Church of the Brotherhood in Venice. The guild that built the church was overjoyed because they attended to the sick and plague-stricken.
Chiesa del Redentore (Church of the Redeemer), Venice
In 1577, at the end of two years of deadly plague, Venice’s Senate and the Doge ordered the construction of a grand new church, Chiesa del Redentore (Redeemer), designed by the Veneto’s premier architect, Andrea Palladio, to thank God for sparing the fortunate two-thirds of its population.
Santa Maria della Salute Church, Venice
In 1630, Plague struck Venice again. The Doge and the Patriarch vowed to build a church, Santa Maria della Salute, in honor of the Virgin Mary, and asked for her help to end the plague. Within a week, the epidemic was over. Architect Baldassarre Longhena won a competition and designed the church.
To learn more about Venice’s “votive/plague” churches, see:
BREAKING NEWS: “Lucia’s Renaissance Christmas,” my new holiday short story, is now out as a Kindle ebook:
Renaissance Venice at Christmas time—what could be more festive and exciting for Lucia, a fresh-faced newcomer?
But she sees her father’s grief and vows to bring joy back into his life. Then her own heartache erupts, and all of Venice’s scenic canals and spectacular churches can’t dispel her sorrow. How can Lucia find joy to share in this holiday season?
