The Glass Minstrel

by
Hayden Thorne


 

ISBN: 978-0-9828267-1-3

Pages: 206

Retail Price: $13.99


Recommended Age: 16 and up


Synopsis

The Christmas season in mid-19th century Bavaria is brought to life in the The Glass Minstrel, a new, original historical novel from acclaimed author Hayden Thorne.

Two fathers, Abelard Bauer and Andreas Schifffer, are brought together through the tragic deaths of their eldest sons. Bauer, a brilliant toymaker, fashions glass Christmas ornaments and his latest creation is a minstrel with a secret molded into its features. When Schiffer sees Bauer's minstrel ornament in the toy shop, he realizes that Bauer is struggling to keep his son's memory alive through his craft. At first he tries to fault him for this, but then recognizes that he, too, is seeking solace and healing by reading his son's diary, a journal that reveals, in both painful as well as beautiful detail, the true nature of his relationship with the artisan's son.

In addition to the story of the two fathers, a third character is central to the plot: fifteen-year-old Jakob Diederich. The young man is burdened with his own secret; he develops an obsession with a traveling Englishman who stays at the inn where Jakob works. The lives of all three men intersect during the holiday as Schiffer tries to focus on his family in the present; Bauer struggles to reconcile his past and Jakob copes with an uncertain future. The lyrical prose and rich period detail will keep the reader engrossed from the very first page in this tale of redemption, hope, and haunting, but timeless, themes.

Awards


Reviews

“Jakob’s character is the one that will resonate with teen readers the most, and I really enjoyed how real he was.”

“Overall, this book was a well written drama ... If you like historicals, especially sober dramas which make you think, then I would recommend The Glass Minstrel.”

“Thorne weaves this entrancing story through trails of despair, hope, unfulfilling meanderings of the flesh, the pain of loss, the grasp for soulful reconciliations ...”

“The tone it sets enhances the period mood and gives the setting a mythical quality. The alpine landscape and town details are sketched in with only the lightest of generic touches, furthering the impression of a place that owes less to any real location than to the villages of old, German fables and vintage Christmas cards.”

“Thorne has delivered a story steeped in romance and atmosphere, heartbreakingly sad and joyously hopeful at the same time.”

“Normally, I don't read historical fiction, but this book was wonderful. The author really hooks you with the flow of her writing and accurate details.”