Tracy Chevalier was born in October of 1962. After getting a BA in Oberlin
College, she moved to England and completed her MA at the University of East Anglia. After completing, Chevalier went on to
write her first book The Virgin Blue.
All her life, Chevalier has had a passion for Vermeer's works. "There is so much mystery in each painting,
in the women he depicts, so many stories suggested but not told." This air of mystery from Vermeer's works helped inspire
the beginnings of Girl With a Pearl Earring. Chevalier owns a poster of the original painting done by Vermeer hanging
up on her wall. Staring at the girl's smile, deep mysterious eyes and mixed emotions, is no wonder such an amazing story was
born.
Chevalier says that one night, "I wonder[ed] what Vermeer did to her to make her look like that. Now
there’s a story worth writing." After three days, Chevalier mapped out the whole story. "It was effortless," she
says, "I could see all the drama and conflict in the look on her face. Vermeer had done my work for me."
Two weeks after finish Girl With a Pearl Earring, Chevalier had her son. Her pregnancy could
be reflected in Catharina's character; she had a child Griet first comes into the house and gives a still-birth when Griet
leaves the household. This could reflect the fears, thoughts and feelings that Chevalier had during her pregnancy.
