logo

44 pages 1 hour read

Girl With a Pearl Earring

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2000

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Tracy Chevalier

Girl With a Pearl Earring

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2000
Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Delft, Netherlands • 1660s

Theme
Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Lexile Level

770L

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Griet, a young maid in the household of painter Johannes Vermeer, navigates her new responsibilities, including the delicate task of cleaning his studio without altering anything. She becomes fascinated by Vermeer’s artistry and develops a complex relationship with him, ultimately becoming the model for his famous painting. Griet’s journey is marked by her personal growth amid the constraints of 17th-century Dutch society, family tragedies, and evolving relationships that shape her future decisions and self-understanding.

Melancholic

Mysterious

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Serene

Reviews & Readership

4.1

755,367 ratings

70%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier receives praise for its vivid depiction of 17th-century Delft and its richly atmospheric narrative. The characterization of Griet and her journey resonates with readers. However, some find the plot predictable and the pacing slow at times. Overall, it's celebrated for its evocative prose and historical detail.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Girl With a Pearl Earring?

A reader who appreciates richly detailed historical fiction with a focus on art and drama will enjoy Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. Comparable to readers of Orhan Pamuk's My Name is Red and Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch, they will relish the intricate storytelling and exploration of 17th-century Dutch life.

4.1

755,367 ratings

70%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Delft, Netherlands • 1660s

Theme
Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Lexile Level

770L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.