The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato

Description

Bibliographic Details

• Author: Marina Fiorato
• Title: The Glassblower of Murano
• Publisher: ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; First U.S. Edition (June 2009)
• Language: ‎ English
• Format: Trade Paperback – 348 ‏pages
• ISBN-10: ‎ 0312386982
• ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0312386986
• Item Weight: ‎ .65 pounds
• Dimensions: ‎ 5.5 x 0.85 x 8.5 inches
• Book Condition: Used – Good (shows minimal markings / discoloration on pages / page edges)
• Cover Condition: Very Good
• Edition: First U.S. Edition

Synopsis:

In this internationally bestselling debut, a heartbroken woman embarks on a grand exploration of life and love as a glassblower in the city of her ancestors, Venice, and learns that the past may not be as clear as blown glass.

Venice, 1681. Glassblowing is the lifeblood of the Republic, and Venetian mirrors are more precious than gold. Jealously guarded by the murderous Council of Ten, the glassblowers of Murano are virtually imprisoned on their island in the lagoon. But the greatest of the artists, Corradino Manin, sells his methods and his soul to the Sun King, Louis XIV of France, to protect his secret daughter.

In the present day his descendant, Leonora Manin, leaves an unhappy life in London to begin a new one as a glassblower in Venice. As she finds new life and love in her adoptive city, her fate becomes inextricably linked with that of her ancestor and the treacherous secrets of his life begin to come to light.

About the Author:

Marina Fiorato is an Italian-English designer, actress, film producer and author.

Fiorato was born in Manchester, with a Venetian father, but was raised in Langcliffe, North Yorkshire.

She studied history at Durham University, before specializing in the study of Shakespeare for a Master's at the University of Warwick. On completing her degrees, she studied art and worked for a period as an illustrator and film reviewer.

Fiorato co-produced and starred in the award-winning short film Devilwood (2006), and also appeared in The Wrong Blonde, An Ideal Husband (both 1999), Maybe Baby (2000) and Tuesday (2008). She also designed tour visuals for bands such as U2 and the Rolling Stones and for films including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

Fiorato's first novel, The Glassblower of Murano (2008), was written in bookshop coffee-shops so that she could research the Venetian setting. It was rejected by numerous publishers before being accepted by Beautiful Books Ltd. and becoming an international success. Two years later, Fiorato's The Botticelli Secret (2010) earned a large advance. Her other works also have an Italian theme or setting.

Fiorato is married to filmmaker Sacha Bennett and they have two children.