Award-winning historical fiction set in 16th-century Venice
Benjamin Franklin Digital Award
IPPY Award for Best Adult Fiction E-book
National Indie Excellence Award Finalist
Eric Hoffer Award Finalist
Shortlisted for the da Vinci Eye Prize
From the author of Made in Italy comes a tale of artisanal tradition and family bonds set in one of the world’s most magnificent settings: Renaissance … artisanal tradition and family bonds set in one of the world’s most magnificent settings: Renaissance Venice.
Venetian gondola-maker Luca Vianello considers his whole life arranged. His father charted a course for his eldest son from the day he was born, and Luca is positioned to inherit one of the city’s most esteemed boatyards. But when Luca experiences an unexpected tragedy in the boatyard, he believes that his destiny lies elsewhere. Soon he finds himself drawn to restore an antique gondola with the dream of taking a girl for a ride.
The Gondola Maker brings the centuries-old art of gondola-making to life in the tale of a young man’s complicated relationship with his master-craftsman father. Lovers of historical fiction will appreciate the authentic details of gondola craftsmanship, along with an intimate first-person narrative set against the richly textured backdrop of 16th-century Venice.
A Venetian page-turner
“I’m a big fan of Venice, so I appreciate Laura Morelli’s special knowledge of the city, the period, and the process of gondola-making. An especially compelling story.” –Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun
“Laura Morelli has done her research, or perhaps she was an Italian carpenter in another life. One can literally smell and feel the grain of finely turned wood in her hands.” –Pamela Sheldon Johns, author of Italian Food Artisans
“Romance, intrigue, family loyalty, pride, and redemption set against the backdrop of Renaissance Italy.” –Library of Clean Reads
“Beautiful, powerful evocation of the characters, the place, and the time. An elegant and thoroughly engaging narrative voice.” –Mark Spencer, author of Fiction Club: A Concise Guide to Writing Good Fiction
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Written well but the story is a bit tedious with massive details… and often too gory and heavy for me. Got through maybe a fourth of the book and then quit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The attention to realistic historical detail was very evocative
The characters were richly drawn and the tale enriching.
What fabulous book! Art history at it’ best!
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book when I started reading it but I’m glad I continued and finished the book. It is a good coming of age story for Luca that depicts his rather repressed life before a life-changing event and his ability to survive on his own and overcome the many challenges he faces. I would definitely recommend this book.
Long winded book, I stopped reading when he had polenta. Corn was native to the Ameticad, still hjndreds of years from discovery.
Do not miss this prodigious book
It is so interesting to learn about the trade of the gondolier maker, as well as the lifeof the people at the time of the story. The description of Venice, is splendid, you can smell, see and hear While reading this great story. One of the best book I have read in the last couple of years… the writing is a pure delight.
thank you .
One of the most interesting books that I have read of the Venetian Genre and action packed as well. Fairly well paced, Some romance but not objectionable. Author is very good at this task and it really shows.
I enjoyed this book tremendously. I felt like I was actually n Venice during this time period.
I love reading of Venice, I picture in my mind the canals and travel with the characters
Loved learning about building early gondolas.
Learned about building gondolas and expectations of families can be changed. A very interesting view of families surviving in the 1900s.
Didn’t care for this book.
I liked it very much.
Well-written based on historical information. Very engrossing.
interesting to think of history impact on family life and so long ago it even choose your entire destiny and career. It was good to see family disagreement get resolved. Very informative
good read
interesting look at historic venice and interesting to see similarities to current venice as portrayed by donna leon
Great read. Felt like I was in Venice.
A most excellent historical novel. Very amazing first novel.
Well-researched and highly-detailed glimpse of life in old Venice. Absorbing, with enjoyable characters.
The author’s rich descriptions of historical and gondola-making details made me feel like I was living the story along with the characters. Her portrait of Luca the gondola maker is tender and beautiful.