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!
Arrivederci/ until next time,
Colleen