Girl with a Pearl Earring, a fascinating historical novel set in 16th Century Holland, by Tracy Chevalier. This novel is the story of 16 year old Griet who is forced to
leave her home and work as a maid for painter Johannes Vermeer. Griet struggles
to cope with Vermeer’s growing family, jealous wife and stubborn servant.
Griet finds release in helping Vermeer finish his paintings. She admires
his work and even becomes a part of it, but this spreads tension into the
household and leads the Greit losing her job.
I think one of the main themes in the novel is of social inequality. After Griet's father is blinded by an explosion in a kiln factory, she is forced to
work as a maid. As a maid she is treated very unfairly as she doesn’t
have as much money as the Vermeers. This makes the Vermeer family think they
have the right to boss Griet and the other servants around.
My favourite line in the the book is "Only thieves and children run". This line was used twice in the novel, once at the start when Griet is 16 years old running home, and the second time when Griet is an adult running away from from Vermeer's house after being accused of stealing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as I found it insightful into the lives of servants in 16th century Holland.
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