John Steinbeck's The Pearl is an absolutely beautifully written retelling of the biblical parable "the pearl of great price". Differing from the gospel account, Steinbeck's version is firmly rooted in the human condition, and the realities of our world and our species. The writing is fully Steinbeck and flows beautifully yet simply, with his brilliant economy of words. Once again, i walk away from a Steinbeck tale with a sense of awe and wonder, yet also a deep feeling of connection to my humanity and to our community that is the human species. This is a must-read, and I can't wait to savor it again.
