A Conversation with Tracy Chevalier: Exploring The Glassmaker, Venice, and the Timeless Art of Murano Glass 📚

Tracy Chevalier shares the story behind her newest novel and her love for Venetian craft

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Dear Friends,

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down (virtually) with bestselling author Tracy Chevalier for a truly engaging 45-minute conversation on the Flavor of Italy podcast.

We discussed her latest novel, The Glassmaker, a captivating story set in Venice and Murano that spans five centuries of history, artistry, and human resilience. If you know Tracy’s name, it’s likely thanks to her beloved novel Girl with a Pearl Earring, but The Glassmaker is a stunning new addition to her body of work—especially if, like me, you’re passionate about Italian culture, craft, and history.

This book isn’t just a story—it’s a deeply researched, beautifully imagined immersion into the world of Venetian glass and glass bead making, told through the eyes of a fictional heroine, Orsola Rosso, and her family. In our conversation, Tracy and I explored how this novel came to life, the unusual way time works in the story, and the personal touches she brought into the characters’ lives. We also spoke about glass as both a physical art form and a metaphor for history, fragility, and endurance.