GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING by Tracy Chevalier

This one does not disappoint. I had seen the movie and loved it some years ago and being invested in Tracy Chevalier's books this year, I resolved that now is the time to read the book. I can easily see why this is Tracy's most popular work. I could feel myself in Holland relating to a life of a maid who is on the bottom rung of the ladder, who has no rights and is in every way denied. The hopelessness, the futility, the self-denial that existed among the lower classes in 17th century Holland was very aptly portrayed through Griet, a servant girl hired to work in the household of the famous Dutch painter, Johannes Vermeer. Very little is known of Vermeer's private life and even less about the subjects he chose to paint. With little to go on, Tracy Chevalier has succeeded in cleverly crafting a story surrounding Vermeer's famous painting of a girl with a pearl earring bringing 17th century Holland to life. In her true style, Tracy uses a few words yet she says so much. If you read this book you will never again look at this painting and not believe that this is Griet, a simple servant girl who yearned and whose heart was carried into a world she would never belong in. One cannot also fail to empathize with Vermeer, a master of his art, who like so many other artists, lived at the mercy of his patron who commissioned his work and bridged the gap between Vermeer's talent and his ability to earn a living and provide a roof over the heads of his family. It would be easy to walk away from a book with such depressing life issues feeling heavy of heart but Tracy Chevalier manages to achieve the opposite by giving our heroine a small moment of victory and justice at the end which makes Griet's reconciliation with the inevitability of her life a good and plausible choice.
One problem though, the book has totally ruined the movie for me. Watched it again after I finished the book and found it rather inadequate.

BURNING BRIGHT by Tracy Chevalier

I am a huge fan of Tracy Chevalier but was somewhat disappointed in this book. When I discovered that she had written a book about one of my favourite poets, William Blake, I immediately set out to obtain a copy so I can read it. Not only did the book hold a promise of further insight into the remarkable and complex character of this poet, but it gave me scope to imagine I would be gaining more understanding of the French Revolution and its' connection with the British continent. Burning Bright is set in London in 1792, on the eve of the French Revolution. The story focuses on the Kellaway family who move from Dorsetshire to London in pursuit of the job offered to the father by John Astley who owns Astley Circus. The narrative of the story is richly endowed with descriptions of 18th century London which makes you highly appreciative of Chevalier's research and ability to transport the reader to any chosen time and place. I found the story, however, slightly weak. The children who are primary characters in the story are supposed to present a strong connection to Blake's two books of poems, namely Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. Even though the connection can be seen through Maisie Kellaway who arrives in London as a young, innocent country girl and leaves it as a pregnant, unwed girl of 15, I found that William Blake's complexity as a poet and revolutionary appeared weak in the book and did not bear heavy significance to the story. The intention as such was there but it failed to materialize because of Chevalier's weak portrayal of Blake, as seen through the eyes of others. The successful and perfectly resolved ending of the book also does not resonate with Blake's theory of a wide gap between the ideal and reality created by the uncertainty of humanity.

REMARKABLE CREATURES by Tracy Chevalier

Another beautiful book from the brilliant mind of Tracy Chevalier. The story takes us to Lyme Regis in England and centers on two women whose fossil discoveries challenged the religious and geological thinking of early 1800's. Daring to tread into a man's world where they received small recognition for their accomplishments, they fall into the category of women pioneers who despite their lack of education, are now being recognised for their strength, courage and brilliance. This is a true story of Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot who were fossil hunters and whose alliance stands as a monument of the power of friendship. Tracy Chevalier has a remarkable ability to transport the reader to a different time and period through her detailed and careful use of language and evocative image making the reader appreciative of her  thorough research of the subject at hand. I wept when I read the ending of this story but more so when reading the postscript, for I was once again reminded that the characters were real women who once lived and walked upon the shores of Lyme.

THE LAST RUNAWAY by Tracy Chevalier

Tracy Chevalier is a literary genius. If you want to read a book rich with historical content and moral values, this is the book for you. The book explores a 19th century American movement called the Underground Railroad through which 30,000 Negros managed to escape slavery assisted by white abolitionists, freed slaves and many members of the Quaker community. The Last Runaway is set in 1850 and follows a sheltered Quaker girl immigrating from England to America with her sister who is to be married to an English man living in Ohio. Within days of landing in America, and before reaching Ohio, her sister Grace dies of yellow fever leaving Honor alone in a new country that she needs to make her home. Honor joins the Quaker community called Friends in Ohio and marries Jack, a dairy farmer. Her strong Quaker instincts lead Honor to become involved in the rife runaway movement assisting slaves to escape to Canada where freedom awaits them. Tracy Chevalier achieves the optimum balance of realism and sentiment in this heart warming and enlightening book which is extremely hard to put down. Read The Last Runaway, you will be glad you did.