Girl with a Pearl Earring (novel)
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| Girl with a Pearl Earring | |
 First edition cover |
|
| Author | Tracy Chevalier |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Dutton Adult |
| Publication date | 1999 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 240 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 052594527X |
Girl with a Pearl Earring is a 1999 historical novel written by Tracy Chevalier. It takes place in Delft, Holland and was inspired by Vermeer's painting Girl with a Pearl Earring. It fictionalizes the circumstances under which the painting was created. It was adapted into a 2003 film of the same name.
[edit] Plot summary
16-year-old Griet lives with her family in a poorer quarter of Delft in the 17th century. Griet is employed as a maid in the painter Vermeer's house.
While in service there, the area where her family lives in is struck with the bubonic plague, and her sister dies. In this time, she begins to have romantic situations with Pieter, the butcher's son.
Gradually, Griet's relationship with Vermeer changes. He gets her to run errands and perform tasks for him, while keeping it secret from the rest of the house, particularly his sensitive wife. She assists Vermeer and she takes a model's place when she becomes ill.
At the same time, Vermeer's wealthy but licentious patron, van Ruijven, notices Griet and pressures Vermeer to paint them sitting together. Griet and Vermeer are reluctant to acquiesce, due to Griet's strict modesty and in light of a scandal surrounding the last time van Ruijven had been painted with a girl. Eventually, Vermeer compromises and just paints Griet by herself. However, he makes her wear his wife Catharina's pearl earrings. When Catharina discovers this, Griet is forced to leave.
Ten years later, long after Griet has married Pieter and settled into life as a mother and butcher's wife, she is called back to the house. Vermeer is dead, and his will had included a request that Griet receive the two pearl earrings, which she then pawns, finally settling the debt between the butcher shop and the Vermeers.
[edit] Reception
The novel was highly praised by critics and readers alike. It became an instant bestseller after its release and was acclaimed in many countries. USA Today called it "Outstanding", while The Miami Herald called it "A jewel of a novel". Due to its superior reception the novel became a target, and consequently it was made into a film by the same name. The first edition was published by HarperCollins in 1999. It is extremely rare because the back cover carried the spelling mistake, 'earing' and most of the copies were destroyed.The Dutton edition shown in the illustration is not the first edition.
