The Pearl of Love by H.G. Wells
The story follows the life of a young woman named Mary, who is living in a small English village. She is in love with a young man named John, but her father disapproves of their relationship. When Mary discovers a mysterious pearl necklace, she believes it will bring her luck and happiness. Mary soon finds out that the pearl necklace is cursed, and it brings her nothing but misfortune. She is forced to flee her village and seek refuge in London. There, she meets a mysterious stranger who helps her to understand the power of the pearl and its curse. As Mary struggles to break the curse, she discovers the truth about her past and the secrets of the pearl. In the end, she must make a difficult decision that will determine her future.
By H.G. Wells · First published 1946 · Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Adventure · 1,658 words
First lines
The pearl is lovelier than the most brilliant of crystalline stones, the moralist declares, because it is made through the suffering of a living creature. About that I can say nothing because I feel none of the fascination of pearls. Their cloudy lustre moves me not at all. Nor can I decide for myself upon that agelong dispute whether The Pearl of Love is the cruellest of stories or only a gracious fable of the immortality of beauty.
What this Textopian page supports
The Pearl of Love is listed on Textopian as a short story by H.G. Wells, dated 1946 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: H.G. Wells
- Date: 1946 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 1,658 words
- Structure: 1 section, 50 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Pearl of Love by H.G. Wells
- 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 Pearl of Love?
- How does this short story by H.G. Wells fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The title of the book, 'The Pearl of Love', implies a romantic story, and the author, H.G. Wells, is known for writing romantic fiction.
- Fantasy — H.G. Wells is also known for writing fantasy fiction, and the title of the book implies a fantastical story.
- Adventure — H.G. Wells is known for writing adventure stories, and the title of the book implies an exciting journey.
Tags
love · romance · human nature · society · class struggle · desire · greed · loss · redemption · moral dilemmas · relationships · philosophy