#115 in Historical fiction
The Pearl
- 118
- Pages
- about 2 h
- Reading time
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About the book
The Pearl is a piece of literature by the American author John Steinbeck. It was first published as a short story in 1945, and later published as an expanded novella two years later. The story follows a pearl diver, Kino, and explores man's purpose as well as greed, defiance of societal norms, and evil. Steinbeck's inspiration was a Mexican folk tale from La Paz, Baja California Sur, which he had heard in a visit to the formerly pearl-rich region in 1940.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 6.9 across 511 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 74% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Historical fiction average of 7.9. That is how 7.2 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 7.2 | 57 | 11% |
| Hardcover | 6.9 | 454 | 89% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“My second Steinbeck and just as impressive if not even more powerful than “The Grapes of Wrath”. So much intensity and emotions packed in less than 100 pages! Twenty minutes after finishing the book and my heart is still pounding. Highly recommend it!”
Frequently asked
What is The Pearl rated?
7.2 out of 10, from 511 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is The Pearl worth reading?
Readers give it 7.2/10 from 511 ratings, which puts it ahead of 3 % of the Historical fiction shelf.
How long does it take to read The Pearl?
About 2 hours at an average reading pace — 118 pages.
Where does The Pearl rank?
#115 in Historical fiction on the current snapshot.
How long is The Pearl?
It has 118 pages — shorter than 97% of the ranked books in Historical fiction.
If you liked this
Same shelf — Historical fiction — with scores between 7.0 and 7.4, closest to this book.
