“The Glassblower of Murano” is already a bestseller throughout Europe, and now here it is in a brand-new audio expertly read by Kate Magowan ("Stardust", "Kidulthood") and Cristian Solimeno ("Footballers' Wives", "Tuesday"). To describe the book simply as a romance doesn’t do justice to its artistry and richness. There’s a lot of history in here, both French and Venetian, but in making glass itself the real hero of the narrative, Marina Fiorato set herself a mammoth task in discovering not just how it’s made, but how the rather prosaic ingredients of sand, soda and lime can be transfigured into art that men would kill and die for.
To hear Marina talk of glassmaking, you’d think she was a material scientist and an art critic rolled into one, so passionate and illuminating is her spiel. Yet she gained her degree in history – a training that also contributes to an overwhelming sense of authenticity in the narrative. It’s partly set in Venice – and Marina’s half Venetian, which can’t hurt either. In short, here’s a book which isn’t, like many bestsellers, researched by a publisher’s intern or a committee – the author really does know what she’s talking about.
The plot is divided into two main strands: first there’s Nora, fresh from a bitter divorce and wondering what direction her life will take. Her search takes her back to Venice, and the chequered biography of a distant ancestor, Corradino Manin, regarded as one of the finest glassmakers who ever lived. Inspired by his work, an example of which hangs round her neck, Nora decides that by using the family name as a calling card, she will break into the world of glassblowing, which, even in the 21st century, is still very much a male preserve. Cue remarks about glass ceilings. But she’s a gutsy lady, and she soon manages to solicit help from a rather attractive policeman . . .
Meanwhile, back in the 17th century, Corradino faces challenges of his own. Venice is essentially a police state, governed by a mysterious junta known only as “The Ten”. And being a maritime city state, Venice is obsessed with trade and trade secrets, so its world-class glassblowers are kept as de facto prisoners on the island of Murano, in case they are tempted to take their precious skills elsewhere. Then somehow, a French grandee makes Corradino an offer he can’t refuse – the chance to work on the gigantic mirrors which are the crowning glory of Louis XIV’s new palace at Versailles. This is cutting edge stuff, and Manin is perhaps the only man who can match his skills with the architect’s vision. But can he betray Venice – and his young daughter Leonora, who he’d be forced to leave behind? Aside from the problem of how to spirit him off Murano under the noses of The Ten, how can he guarantee his daughter’s safety?
Which is all you need to know at this point. Suffice to say, Marina elegantly weaves these parallel plots into a wonderfully symmetrical – and indeed circular – narrative, inextricably linking Nora’s present with her past – and carrying on the family tradition. It’s a great listen – and perfect for the holidays.
