Steinbeck is a writer of prose. A wordsmith.

This short read is a good example.

The Pearl is a 1947 novella by acclaimed American author John Steinbeck that explores human nature, greed, and the corrupting influence of wealth.

Formatted as a timeless, fable-like parable, the story is based on a Mexican folk tale from La Paz, Baja California Sur, which Steinbeck heard during a visit to the region in 1940.

The narrative focuses on Kino, a poor indigenous pearl diver, his wife Juana, and their infant son Coyotito.

Kino happens to find an extraordinarily massive gem that he names the “Pearl of the World“. 

His life is ruined shortly after.