The Glass-Blowers
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Chipped and worn with some minor damage
Pages: Good
Markings: No markings
In this sweeping historical saga, Daphne du Maurier turns her gaze toward her own ancestry to craft a story of tradition, craftsmanship, and the shattering impact of war. The narrative is voiced by the elderly Sophie Duval, who recounts the turbulent history of the Busson family to her long-lost nephew. Set against the backdrop of 18th-century France, the story follows a dynasty of master glass-makers—artisans who live in a "closed world" governed by its own language and rules. As the French Revolution ignites, the family is swept up in the chaos, testing the bonds between siblings like the charming but reckless Robert, the idealistic Pierre, and the fanatical revolutionary Michel. The novel masterfully captures the contrast between the delicate art of glass-blowing and the brutal reality of the Reign of Terror. As the Busson family navigates the transition from the old regime to the rise of Napoleon, they must face the painful truth that while a glass-blower breathes life into a vessel, they can just as easily shatter it. Du Maurier’s prose brings to life the sights and sounds of the provincial foundries and the tension of a country in revolt, offering a deeply personal look at how grand historical shifts echo through the lives of ordinary people. It is a haunting and beautifully etched portrait of a family’s survival amidst the fragility of their world.
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Format: Hardback
Published: 1963, -
Genre: Fiction
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Chipped and worn with some minor damage
Pages: Good
Markings: No markings
In this sweeping historical saga, Daphne du Maurier turns her gaze toward her own ancestry to craft a story of tradition, craftsmanship, and the shattering impact of war. The narrative is voiced by the elderly Sophie Duval, who recounts the turbulent history of the Busson family to her long-lost nephew. Set against the backdrop of 18th-century France, the story follows a dynasty of master glass-makers—artisans who live in a "closed world" governed by its own language and rules. As the French Revolution ignites, the family is swept up in the chaos, testing the bonds between siblings like the charming but reckless Robert, the idealistic Pierre, and the fanatical revolutionary Michel. The novel masterfully captures the contrast between the delicate art of glass-blowing and the brutal reality of the Reign of Terror. As the Busson family navigates the transition from the old regime to the rise of Napoleon, they must face the painful truth that while a glass-blower breathes life into a vessel, they can just as easily shatter it. Du Maurier’s prose brings to life the sights and sounds of the provincial foundries and the tension of a country in revolt, offering a deeply personal look at how grand historical shifts echo through the lives of ordinary people. It is a haunting and beautifully etched portrait of a family’s survival amidst the fragility of their world.