Girl in the title refers to Griet, a 17 years old who work as a maid at Vermeer family. Her task is laundrying all the family's clothes (which is really huge!) and cleaning the Vermeer studio painting without moving anything. The member of Vermeer's family were Catharina, who is Vermeer's wife, Maria Thins who is her mother in law, Tanneke who is another maiden, and FIVE children (it goes to six since Catharina carrying a child as well).
Griet life's seems to turn upside down. Everything seems difficult for Griet. Catharina didnt like her. She always made as diffcult task for Griet as she could. Carolina, who is the third children hate her as well. She made a lot of trouble to Griet. Only one man seems to understand her and put an attention to her, Pieter.
Short story short, as a request from Vermeer's master (I forget his name, sorry dear), Vermeer decide to paint Griet secretly. Everyone knows that Catherine did not like Griet, she would strongly disagree if know that Griet will be painted by her own husband. Especially if she knows that Griet would wear her pearl earrings. Maria Thins and Johannes Vermeer desperately trying to hide this fact.
But, one day, she knew it. She knew that a girl in a new painting is Griet. AND she knew that Griet wear her pearl earring. She exploded, blindly angry. She requested an explanation from her mother and her husband. She directs an error on Griet. Seeing no one tried to explain or try to defend herself, she ran out of the house and go nowhere. This is the end of her life in Vermeer family.
***
I like this book becase its simplicity. The language is not really difficult to understand. And the details is fantastic, i can imagine clearly how was Dutch in 1665, walking in the streets, standing on the edge of the canal, hearing the crowd the market. Even I could see women in a cap just like Griet.
I just found out that this book was filmed by Scarlett Johansen. You should see the film after read this book! Bonne lecture!
Title: Girl with a Pearl Earring
Author: Tracy Chevalier
Publisher: HaperCollins, 1999
Details: Paperback, 248 pages
ISBN: 0006513204
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