The Secret Of The Glass

Age Range: Definitely adult

This book is set in Venice in the early 1600's. The main character is Sophia Fiolario, the daughter of a Murano glassmaker. As glass making is not my expertise, I had never even heard of Murano Glass. The book was fascinating from a historical point of view, as I learned so much about Italy! In this time, the making of beautiful glass was a closely guarded secret. So closely guarded that several glassmakers are killed at the beginning of the book for trying to leave Venice. By law, all glassmakers live on the island of Murano, are sworn to secrecy and cannot ever leave Venice. Sophia has already broken the law by learning to make glass from her father.

Burden on top of burden is added as she tries to hide her father's failing health, is betrothed to a man who doesn't actually want her and begins to fall in love with a man she can't have.

Not only do you get to learn the history of the glassmakers, but I learned a ton about one of the other characters, Galileo Galilei, who commissions Sophia's father to make glass pieces for his blasphemous experiment (the telescope). It was incredible to get a sense of how dangerous it was for Galileo to do the things he did and the courage it took!

It did take me a little while to get into the book, but once I did I was so glad I read it! It was incredible to learn about all the history and a good story to go along with it!

I should mention that there are a few parts that are a tad...ahem...descriptive. Just be forewarned.

Recommendation: Read it!