Beautiful

I was asked to read the 20th anniversary edition by Lovereading.

I have to confess never to have read this beautiful book, this has a new an interesting introduction by the author who is overwhelmed with the success of novel, film and interest in a painting- people instantly refer to this as the girl with a pearl earring but possibly will never know the painter.

Having read the Miniaturist by Jessie Burton I wanted to read this novel and how wonderful to receive the 20th anniversary copy.

it is beautiful that the author takes such a famous paining by Vermeer and brings it to life with a wonderful story set in the 1600s.

The story is a girl who works as a maid in the Vermeer house. There is an air of mystery with Vermeer himself, jealousy his wife is jealous of the maids beauty and the maid who is mesmerised by the paintings.

Vermeer's patron to order the maid to sit for one of his paintings. She is mesmerised even with the mixing of the paints and being able to assist to being around art material she has never seen before. Slowly she feels affection for Vermeer and he too for her.

Sadly the wife comes upon the painting and even more racked with jealously orders the maid out of the household to marry a butchers son - back to what was right for that time- one wonders if this had happened today would Vermeer have left his jealous wife or was this the artist falling in love with art and the painting? leave the reader to their thoughts.

The maid is a likable and beautiful character the author brings to life this time in history.

I will now watch the film, as glad to have read the book first, the painting well I will need to travel to the Hague to see it.

Recommended and congratulations to the author for 20 years.