THE FIRST PART OF THIS IRISH NOVEL IS EXTREMELY GLOOMY - FILLED
WITHCRUELTY, POVERTY & UNREMITTING MISERY - BUT I PERSISTED BECAUSE IT IS SO
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN. AND I AM VERY GLAD I DID.
THE TITLE CHARACTER, PEARL, LIVES WITH HER PARENTS, SISTER OPAL AND YOUNGER
BROTHER WILLIE IN THE GATEHOUSE TO A MANSION OWNED BY THE ARISTOCRATIC ENGLISH
ARETON FAMILY. PEARLS FATHER IS EMPLOYED AS A CHAUFFEUR TO LORD ARETON WHO IS A
MEAN AND CALLOUS EMPLOYER AND FATHER.
PEARLS BROTHER, WILLIE, IS KILLED BY A HORSE IN THE STABLES AT THE BIG
HOUSE AND FROM THEN ON THINGS GO RAPIDLY DOWNHILL. HOWEVER, 15YR OLD PEARL
BECOMES CLOSE TO THOMAS ARETON, THE YOUNG HEIR TO THE TITLE AND ESTATE, WHO IS
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM HIS DREADFULLY HARD FATHER.
NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY ARE SEPARATED BUT PEARL GOES ON TO ENJOY A SUCCESSFUL
CAREER AS A WRITER - MANY OF HER STORIES BEING INSPIRED BY HER CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES IN RURAL IRELAND.
SHE NEVER MARRIES AND SHE AND OPAL SHARE A HOUSE ON THE COAST AND ARE VERY
FOND OF THEIR YOUNG COUSIN, ELIZABETH, WHO GOES TO AMERICA TO STUDY BUT HAS A
VERY TRAUMATIC ENCOUNTER WITH A MAN THERE AND RETURNS IN A VERY EMOTIONAL AND
FRAGILE STATE. PEARL TRIES TO TAKE ELIZABETH'S MIND OFF WHAT HAS HAPPENED BY
CONFIDING IN HER OWN DOOMED LOVE AFFAIR AND THINGS MOVE TO A VERY PLEASING
CONCLUSION.
THIS IS A REALLY GOO READ, WONDERFUL WRITING AND A VERY SATISFYING STORY
PEOPLED WITH VIVID CHARACTERS.
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