The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier:

Chevalier is known for historical novels, most notably Girl With A Pearl Earring.  This is of that calibre.  In fact, the plot construction; in some senses very similar to that book.  In 15th century Venice, Orsola is the daughter of a glass worker.  When her Father dies in an accident, she becomes one herself to feed the family and it follows her lives and loves throughout the years.  

It’s fair to say that this is an efficient, well-written historical novel.  Chevalier’s plain, open, storytelling suits a narrative better than most historical novels, which try to copy the style of the period.  However, this can often be frustrating as the dialogue shifts into Italian slang (the glossary at the back is useful). On the upside, I can now swear like a Venetian gondolier. 

The problem with the novel is its big idea: when Orsola works with glass, time slows down (cheekily compared with reading a book).  As a result, she lives through war, revolution, two plagues and a Venice at the sharp end of global warming.  That is a hugely original idea, but the fact that it is inferred, rather than explained is a structural problem.  One historical character turns up and the use of more could have made the narrative more expansive.  Also, our sense of who the characters are changes with the passage of time and that is another issue with it.  

In conclusion, this is a better than historical novel than most, but with a bigger, richer narrative suggested.  It’s published in the UK by Harper Collins on September 12th and I thank them for a preview copy.  #theglassmaker.