The Glass-Blowers
The Glass-Blowers is a historical novel by Daphne du Maurier about a French family of glassblowers, the Bussons, and their lives around the time of the French Revolution. The story is inspired by the author’s own family history.
In 1841, Sophie Duval in England learns of a man named Louis-Mathurin Busson who shares her mother’s maiden name. She meets him and discovers he is the son of her brother Robert. Sophie then tells the family history, explaining how Louis grew up in England without knowing his French relatives.
The Bussons made beautiful glass for the aristocracy. The eldest son, Robert, is very talented but longs to join high society. His wish brings financial trouble, and his father must rescue him. The second son, Pierre, has no interest in glassmaking and goes to Martinique to work for a rich planter; after returning, he becomes a notary who helps the oppressed.
Sophie marries François, and Michel helps run the family refinery. Edmé marries a wealthy, older tax collector, hoping for an easy life. Sophie stays in touch with Robert, who is obsessed with social climbing.
When the Revolution begins, Robert moves to England with his second wife, leaving his son Jaques behind. He hopes to win favor with exiled nobles but does not succeed. Michel and François lead militia groups and gain power through fear of Royalist attacks. Edmé and her husband separate, and he flees to avoid revolutionaries.
As France becomes steadier, Robert returns, leaving his family to believe he died crossing the Channel. He reconciles with his brothers, but Jaques wants nothing to do with him. Michel dies of lung disease; Pierre drowns while trying to rescue a dog; Robert and Edmé also die. Sophie is the last surviving sibling and spends her final days writing letters to Louis to tell him the family story.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:09 (CET).