Historical Fiction Annotation

Girl with a Pearl Earring

By Tracy Chevalier

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publication Date: 1999

Number of Pages: 233

Setting: 17th century Delft, Holland

Plot Summary: After her father's accident, 16-year-old Griet is forced to become a maid at the painter Johannes Vermeer's house to help support her family. Griet cooks and cleans for his large family, as well as cleans Vermeer's art studio, where even his wife is not permitted to go. Griet takes an interest in his art and he takes an interest in Griet. Vermeer begins to teach Griet how to mix paint and eventually he paints her, despite his wife's disapproval. Her new work and new master take her out of her old world and into a new world of art, color, and passion.

Historical Fiction Appeal and Characteristics:

Accurate historical detail of setting, characters, and events: This novel was based on the real painting Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer. The time and location are also based on real historical facts. However, the helper Griet and and the events described in the book are fictional.

Story line focuses on a specific character and event: The story is through the perspective of Griet and it follows her over a period of several years while she gets to know her master and eventually leads to the painting of the famous Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Live and actions are shaped by historical times: While some of the characters are based on real people, little is actually know about them so the author shapes them based on the time.

Story unfolds at a leisurely pace: Even though the readers attention is grabbed at the beginning, the actual main event occurs at the end of the novel and builds slowly toward it.

Language and style: The language is simple and is told in the first person by Griet in retrospect.

Title Read-a-likes:

I, Mona Lisa / Jeanne Kalogridis

Marrying Mozart / Stephanie Cowell

Johanna / Claire Copperstein

Author Read-a-likes:

Philippa Gregory

Penelope Fitzgerald

Maggie Anton