The book
centres on Vermeer’s prosperous Delft household during the 1660s. When Griet,
the novel’s quietly perceptive heroine, is hired as a servant, turmoil follows.
First, the 16-year-old narrator (Griet) becomes increasingly intimate with her
master. Then Vermeer employs her as his assistant and ultimately has Griet sit
for him as a model. A complex domestic tension rises in the household, ruled by
the painter’s jealous, eternally pregnant wife and his taciturn mother-in-law.
Author: Tracy Chevalier was born on October 19, 1962. She
grew up in Washington, DC. She moved to England in 1984, and worked for several
years as a reference book editor. In 1994 she graduated from the MA course in
creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Her first novel, Virgin
Blue, was chosen by WH Smith for its Fresh Talent promotion in 1997. She has
written seven novels, mostly in the historical genre. Tracy lives in London
with her husband and son.
My thoughts: I read this
masterpiece twice. I loved this
beautifully written historical fiction, all the more so as I am fond of
Vermeer, a little known painter born in Delft in 1632. Johannes Vermeer painted
mostly domestic interiors, often portraying a woman performing a task. He only
painted about thirty-seven pictures and one of my favourite paintings is
without a doubt the “Girl With a Pearl Earring”.
Although it
is a fiction, the facts around the famous painter Johannes Vermeer are true.
The author has respected the historical facts with respect to the dates and
events that have taken place. I loved the character of the maid, Griet, a very intelligent
and wise girl, who evolves in the course of the story. The other characters are
intriguing, including the painter; most of the time the narrator (Griet) makes
him seem very mysterious.
The style of
the book is what I would call a “huis clos” in French (a claustrophobic drama
behind closed doors). As the story develops the reader feels the tension
growing and is gripped by an anxiety: how will Griet manage to survive among
the vipers? It's an intense and sad story, but so
beautiful. I urge you to read it.