Marietta, a Maid of Venice

by F. Marion Crawford

Zorzi Ballarin' is a Dalmatian who, despite Venetian laws forbidding it, learns the trade of glassblowing and becomes a master artist with dreams of having his own furnace and creating his own kinds of glass. Forbidden romance, jealousy, and bold accusations, however, contrive to complicate matters with his master in this exciting and exotic historical romance. Francis Marion Crawford (1854 - 1909) was an American writer famous for his novels set in Italy - and for his weird and wonderful stories. Other notable works by this author "Saracinesca" (1887), " A Tale of Arabia" (1891), and "A Roman Singer" (1884). Many antiquarian books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive, and it is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now, in an affordable, high-quality, modern edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned biography of the author.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Italy, Romance, Historical, Fiction, Clean Romance

514 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1901

About the author

Francis Marion Crawford (1854-1909) was an American writer noted for his many novels. He was born at Bagni di Lucca, Italy. In 1879 he went to India, where he studied Sanskrit and edited the Allahabad Indian Herald. Returning to America he continued to study Sanskrit at Harvard University for a year, contributed to various periodicals, and in 1882 produced his first novel, Mr Isaacs. This book had an immediate success, and its author's promise was confirmed by the publication of Doctor Claudius: A True Story (1883). After a brief residence in New York and Boston, in 1883 he returned to Italy, where he made his permanent home. He also published the historical works, Ave Roma Immortalis (1898), Rulers of the South (1900) renamed Sicily, Calabria and Malta in 1904, and Gleanings from Venetian History (1905). The Saracinesca series is perhaps known to be his best work, with the third in the series, Don Orsino, set against the background of a real estate bubble, told with effective concision. A fourth book in the series, Corleone, was the first major treatment of the Mafia in literature.

Reviews

[Dorcas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year 1470 was a tough year to be a glassblower if you were not Venetian by birth. Not only was it illegal, you could be tried by torture into confessing and imprisoned or killed.

So when Zorzi the Dalmatian was taken in as servant to famous glass blower Angelo Beroviero, much effort was put forth to keep Beroviero's glass secrets safe and Zorzi out of public suspicion.

Even so, as the years pass, Beroviero grows to trust Zorzi even more than his own sons, and Zorzi's artistic skill becomes manifest in the many experiments Beroviero has him perform.

But jealousy will brood, accusations will be uttered and then there is the small matter of Zorzi's love for Beroviero's daughter, Marietta, forbidden both by class and race, and all the more impossible when Marietta is formally betrothed to a man of name (though ill repute) in the city.

This is quite the tale, lots of fascinating descriptions of glass blowing, as well as some twists and turns in the form of illegal gambling dens, a secret society, an exotic slave/concubine and a pirate.

I really enjoyed this and could have given it 5 stars with just a bit more character development. Recommended for lovers of turn of the century romances.

CONTENT: G- Mild PG ( for some violence)

[Tweety · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe I have found my favorite book. :)

Zorzi Ballarin is a Dalmatian and therefore cannot be an Assistant Glassblower to the Master artist Angelo Beroviero, only a fire stoker. But despite the laws of Venice stating otherwise, Zorzi learns the trade of glassblowing and becomes a master artist with dreams of having his own furnace and creating his own kinds of glass.

But to even imagine begging The Ten of Venice to allow him the honor of glassblowing is nearly unthinkable as if they become angry you can be tried, tortured, banished or killed. There is also the small matter of Zorzi's hidden love for the master's daughter, Marietta.

Marietta's father, Beroviero is planning her marriage to a nobleman named Jacopo Contarini who is famed for his handsome looks and blond silky beard. It is the best match a Glassblower can make and in these times once the formal engagement is announced it mustn't be broken or the couple will be ostracized. If they are fortunate, they will see each other once before they are married.

One night Zorzi is called by Beroviero to run an errand into Venice late at night to inform Jacopo that he is to go to St. Mark's chapel to "see and be see". Once that is done the marriage will be eminent. But Zorzi comes upon more that just Jacopo at his house, and this one night could change Zorzi's life forever.

Based on the true life of Zorzi Ballarin and Marietta Beroviero, there are several "versions" or twists that people have assumed really happened. Whether Zorzi was the honest man Beroviero took him for or the thief storytellers say he was, you'll just have to read and decide for yourself.

I've had a string of very good books lately, and I've "found" several new favorites that I know will stay that way. But this is My Favorite. I've never chosen a favorite before, I might never again.

Really, really enjoyed this. Both the characters, and the plot. I haven't read about the Renaissance before, and I thoroughly loved the setting. The art of glassblowing was interesting and helped me to understand the characters. Some were bad, some were good. But none of them were completely unlikable. Well, I take back the completely, as I did not like everyone.

Now, isn't the glass pretty? Sorry I couldn't find a red glass just like in the book. There was very little 1400s glass ware online for me to pick from.




1400s-early 1500s




Late 1400s Early 1500s.




1500-1525




This is the wrong time period, but its the color that the glassblowers at the time were trying to create. A ruby, blood red. Also it has etch work, just as described in the book.


PG One character has a mistress and she plays a fairly large part in the book, while not ever being steamy or showing anything. There was a bit of torture in the form of a metal Pear but nothing violent shown. Some gambling. No swears that I recall.

[Mela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quite surprising type of a book. There is in one package: a historical fiction, a sweet romance, a fairy-tale and a moral and philosophical guide.

When I have begun reading I was feeling like I was in some fairy-tale world. There is no magic, there is this kind of writing, of storytelling that make me feel that way. Then I was reading very specific and precise descriptions of glassblowing and fifteenth-century Venice and I knew that I had in my hand a good historical fiction. In the meantime I felt in love with the love between two main characters. So shy, sweet, unconditional. It is a love of witch we are dreaming some time to time. And it is so good to read about it some time to time. It gives hope and some light in our life. You will find here also some actions, wickedness and misunderstandings. But, of course there is a happy ending. Maybe not all moralists will be happy how everybody end but it is their problem.

For me it will be always more a sweet love story than a historical book. But sill, there is historical background, as I wrote above.

If you want to be cheer up, if you long for a sweet love story and you like a historical fiction it is time to pick up this book.

My quotes:

"The best which a man means to do is generally better than the best he does, and it is perhaps the best he is capable of doing"

"There is no such consolation to a born coward as a logical reason for not doing what he is afraid to do"

"Every woman who loves a man and is anxious about him is sure that if she can be alone with him for a moment, he will tell her the truth about his condition. The experience of thousands of years has not taught women that if there is one person in the world from whom a man will try to conceal his ills and aches, it is the woman he loves, because he would rather suffer everything than give her pain"

"But love itself does not argue. At first it is seen far off, like a beautiful bird of rare plumage, among flowers, on a morning in spring; it comes nearer, it is timid, it advances, it recedes, it poises on swiftly beating wings, it soars out of sight, but suddenly it is nearer than before; it changes shapes, and grows vast and terrible, till its flight is like the rushing of the whirlwind; then all is calm again, and in the stillness a sweet voice sings the chant of peace or the melancholy dirge of an endless regret; it is no longer the dove, nor the eagle, nor the storm that leaves ruin in its track—it is everything, it is life, it is the world itself, for ever and time without end, for good or evil, for such happiness as may pass all understanding, if God will, and if not, for undying sorrow"

"He looked at her in silent wonder for a moment, happy beyond words to be with her"

"the half hour, and all that might happen to him before morning. The glorious and triumphant certainty which first love brings to every man when it is first returned, still swelled his heart and filled the air he breathed, so that while breathing deep, he could not breathe enough"

"To a man, first love is a victory, to a girl it is a sweet wonder, and a joy, and a tender longing, all in one"

[Suzannah Rowntree · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1470 Venice, the glassmakers of Murano enjoy a privileged position. Their social status permits them to intermarry with the nobility, and it's forbidden to teach their trade to foreigners, which ensures that the secrets of fine glassmaking never leave the lagoon. These two privileges benefit the wealthy Angelo Beroviero, a glassmaker who plans to marry his daughter Marietta to the young patrician Jacopo Contarini - but they pose a significant challenge for his young servant, Zorzi the Dalmation. Despite the law, Zorzi has learned the craft of glassblowing while assisting Beroviero, and has become a truly great artist - but being a foreigner, he'll never be able to go into business for himself, or to win the hand of Marietta, whom he loves.

When Beroviero sends him on a secret mission to Venice to arrange a meeting between Marietta and her intended husband, Zorzi stumbles upon a secret society and sets in motion a chain of events that threaten his whole future - his work, his love, and even his life.

(Full review at Vintage Novels)

[MarilynLovesNature · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite. Well-researched in the customs of Venice and Murano. A truly feminist heroine. I listened to it on LibriVox where it was well-read by Michelle Fry. I left a review on that website.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1901.

I like the writing style in this work, for it flows well and is richly descriptive:

After that, he became almost as jealous of his daughter, and though he did not lock her up like her mother, he used to take her with him to the glass-house when the weather was not too hot, so that she should not be out of his sight all day.

🟣Kindle version.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!! This is one of my favorites, now! Brilliant, intelligent writing that kept me turning the pages quickly. So glad I found this book!

[Italo Italophiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

F. Marion Crawford (b.1854-d.1909), a polyglot American author who was born in and later lived in Italy, was a prolific and entertaining writer of historical romances. His many books are freely available via the internet because they are in the public domain.

Mr. Crawford traveled the world, learned over 20 languages, settled in Rome and Sorrento, and brought up his children in Italy. He wrote books that entertain and enthrall, and that were especially appreciated by young women readers for their Victorian romanticism.

Marietta: A Maid of Venice is set in 1400s Venice and Murano. It is a love story between a glassmaker's very sweet daughter and a romantic foreign glassmaker. The era comes to life.

Please see my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...

[Msimone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered F. Marion Crawford through my acquaintance with the group of artistic literati who surrounded Isabella Stewart Gardener. Crawford was quite the popular novelist in the early 20th century. He had a reputation for stories of horror and romance set in historic, exotic locales. Marietta is a fast read romance populated with fascinating characters in 15th century Venice: glass blowers, patricians, Pirates, slaves, servants and the Doges. Crawford was born in Italy and has researched the period well. The story gives wonderful descriptions of the Gondolas, and glass blowing houses, descriptions of tradesmen and their unions, and the various social classes and secret societies who gamed and conspired for political and artistic freedom.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this while in Venice and hence enjoyed it very much. Though the story was perhaps improbable, I was pulled in by the characters and mostly by the culture in which they lived, about 1500. I enjoyed learning of the social mores of Venice at that time, the political system, etc. Think we should have watched a display of glass making as I would understand more of what they were doing in the glass factory.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd read:
This was a good book, almost everything you could wish a book to be, however on this reread I just couldn't quite give my self over to the stereotypes of strong, good, brave hero vs weak, cowardly, villainous villain 😂
The setting was very interesting and the plot was also, it's just most of the characters were like papercutouts. Except Pasquale, he's awesome.