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The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier

Venice, 1486. Orsola Rosso flouts convention to save her family from ruin, honing her craft through war and plague, tragedy and triumph, love and loss.

Radio 4,10 episodes

Episodes

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Episode 1
As Renaissance Venice thrives, a young woman flouts convention to keep her family afloat.
17 Feb 2025,14 mins
Episode 2
As the Rosso family struggle with their loss, Orsola begins to spread her creative wings.
18 Feb 2025,14 mins
Episode 3
After making a rash promise, Marco Rosso knuckles down to keep his family afloat.
19 Feb 2025,14 mins
Episode 4
Antonio moves to Murano, leaving the bustle, crowds and disease of Venice behind him.
20 Feb 2025,14 mins
Episode 5
The plague has left Venice devastated but on Murano, the furnaces are firing again.
21 Feb 2025,14 mins
Episode 6
Antonio flees Murano after Orsola’s brother brokers her engagement to rival maker Stefano.
24 Feb 2025,14 mins
Episode 7
As the Rossos recover from their brush with Casanova, Venetian finances take a battering.
25 Feb 2025,14 mins
Episode 8
The Rosso workshop rebuilds as glass beads come to the family’s rescue once again.
26 Feb 2025,14 mins
Episode 9
A calm spell has allowed Marco to stretch his artistic limits but European unrest looms.
27 Feb 2025,14 mins
Episode 10
Orsola’s shop in Venice is thriving but echoes of her sprawling past are ever present.
28 Feb 2025,14 mins