The Glassmaker

A Novel

Named a Best Historical Novel of 2024 by The Sunday Times, The Independent, and BookPage

“The Glassmaker is as finely wrought as a dazzling Murano bead. . . . Chevalier reaffirms her status as one of the reigning queens of historical fiction.” —The Independent

“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, author of Horse

From the bestselling historical novelist, a rich, transporting story that follows a family of glassmakers from the height of Renaissance-era Italy to the present day.

It is 1486 and Venice is a wealthy, opulent center for trade. Orsola Rosso is the eldest daughter in a family of glassblowers on Murano, the island revered for the craft. As a woman, she is not meant to work with glass—but she has the hands for it, the heart, and a vision. When her father dies, she teaches herself to make glass beads in secret, and her work supports the Rosso family fortunes.

Skipping like a stone through the centuries, in a Venice where time moves as slowly as molten glass, we follow Orsola and her family as they live through creative triumph and heartbreaking loss, from a plague devastating Venice to Continental soldiers stripping its palazzos bare, from the domination of Murano and its maestros to the transformation of the city of trade into a city of tourists. In every era, the Rosso women ensure that their work, and their bonds, endure.

Chevalier is a master of her own craft, and The Glassmaker is as inventive as it is spellbinding: a mesmerizing portrait of a woman, a family, and a city as everlasting as their glass.

The love of glass & family

As a lampworker myself of 24 years, I really enjoyed the story. Having been to Murano & Venice a couple of times I felt as though I was there again looking at the entire lagoon differently. Just a lovely well told story with the correct history woven in. Time is truly slower on Murano than anywhere else I have been to.

Great story that draws one into the history of Murano

This book so cleverly shows someone why Murano is the wonderful place it is today through what has happened to create it throughout history. The book makes the reader very aware of the importance of the true beauty on and in the glass of Murano. Rather than what most of the world now sees in the glass objects we use every day. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves learning history or is thinking of ever traveling to Venice.

Engrossing magical tale

An enveloping tale of love, artistry, history and family, brilliantly intertwined over the centuries and beautifully narrated. Purchase this book, listen and revel in it.

The history. And I once visited a Murano glass maker on the Island.

Very authentic. Brought my visit to Venice back. Loved the read. Had to listen to the ending again.

Glass Makers and family

I visited Venice and Murano many years ago to see the glass blown there. I have a lovely paperweight I bought there. This book brought back many memories. The story of a typical family enhanced the book as well.