The Priceless Pearl
The Priceless Pearl, by Alice Duer Miller, is a novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The story follows the life of a young woman named Emily, who finds herself torn between her fiancé and a former lover after she discovers that her fiancé has been unfaithful. As Emily navigates this difficult situation, she must also come to terms with the fact that time is slipping away from her, and that the choices she makes now will have lasting consequences for her future. Throughout the novel, Miller employs a lyrical and introspective style of writing, which allows the reader to delve deep into Emily's thoughts and emotions. The author also explores themes of social class and gender roles, as Emily navigates a society that places strict expectations on women in terms of their behavior and choices. Overall, The Priceless Pearl is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that offers a nuanced exploration of the human experience.
By Alice Duer Miller · First published 1920 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure · 4 chapters · 44,461 words
First lines
"The girl is simply too good-looking," said Bunner, the office manager, in a high, complaining voice. "She is industrious, intelligent, punctual and well-mannered, but simply too good-looking -- a disturbing element in the office on account of her appearance. I made a grave mistake in engaging her."
The president, who had been a professor of botany at a great university before he resigned in order to become head of The Universal Encyclopedia of Necessary Knowledge Publishing Corporation, was a trifle deaf, but had not as yet admitted the fact to himself; and he inquired with the patient, slightly contemptuous surprise of the deaf, "But I do not understand why she is crying."
What this Textopian page supports
The Priceless Pearl is listed on Textopian as a novel by Alice Duer Miller, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Alice Duer Miller
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Drama
- Length: 44,461 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 860 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Priceless Pearl by Alice Duer Miller
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Priceless Pearl?
- How does this novel by Alice Duer Miller fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in late 19th century China, mostly in Peking, during the Boxer Rebellion era.
- Romance — The story has a strong love story between the protagonist and her partner as a main plot element.
- Adventure — The story has elements of adventure with its setting during a turbulent historical era and the action-filled storyline.
- Drama — The book contains elements of drama with its strong emotional plot and relationship conflicts.
Tags
romance · fiction · classic literature · novel · love story · family drama · women's fiction · historical fiction · 1920s setting · New York City setting · society · manners