In the village of Lauscha in Germany, things have been done the same way for centuries. The men blow the glass, and the women decorate and pack it. But when Joost Steinmann passes away unexpectedly one September night, his three daughters must learn to fend for themselves. While feisty Johanna takes a practical approach to looking for work, Ruth follows her heart, aiming to catch the eye of a handsome young villager. But it is dreamy, quiet Marie who has always been the most captivated by the magic – and sparkling possibilities – of the craft of glassblowing. As the spirited sisters work together to forge a brighter future for themselves on their own terms, they learn not only how to thrive in a man’s world, but how to remain true to themselves – and their hearts – in the process.
Shockingly Realistic, a Great Read The Glassblower is not the type of book I usually read. I selected it from Kindle First because the premise of the story was interesting, but I really did not expect to be drawn into the book ad I was. I could not put it down. The descriptions of life in 1800s Germany and of young women trying to make a place for themselves in a profession dominated by men were so realistic I was able to form a mental image of the village, the characters. I hope to read other nooks by this author and will…
A DELIGHTFUL HISTORICAL FICTION! The Glassblower by Petra Durst-Benning is the first book in The Glassblower Trilogy and was originally published in 2003 in German. This astounding work of cultural and historical romance is beautifully rendered into English by Samuel Willcocks, and the novel will be of immense delight to anyone with a bit of interest in German history and culture. There is much more than I anticipated in the book. Apart from the joy of reading it, the book leaves a comforting feeling that everyone can be happy…