The Black Pearl (Scott O'Dell)
Encyclopedia
The Black Pearl is a young adult novel
by Scott O'Dell
first published in 1967
about the coming of age
of the son of a pearl dealer living in the Baja peninsula
. It was a Newbery Honor book in 1967.
, Saul Swimmer
directed U.S.-Spanish co-production The Black Pearl aka La Perla Negra.
^
This is the story of sixteen-year-old Ramon, who lives with his family in Baja, California-Mexico. When Ramon’s father, Blas Salazar, the most famous pearl dealer in the region, makes his son a partner in the business, it is the happiest day of his life. Gaspar Ruiz, known as the "Sevillano," is the Salazar’s best diver. The Sevillano, however, is a braggart who continually boasts of his great achievements. Ramon believes the Sevillano directs his tales to him more than to anyone else. Ramon’s dream is to find a pearl so large that the Sevillano will have to treat him with respect. To achieve this goal Ramon convinces Soto Luzon, who sells pearls to his father, to teach him to dive for pearls in his lagoon. Soto Luzon, a superstitious Indian, informs Ramon that the Manta Diablo, a giant manta, lives in a cave in the lagoon. Ramon continues to practice his diving in the lagoon, however, and on the fourth day his dream comes true – he finds the great Pearl of Heaven. Although Ramon offers to share his good fortune with the Indian, Soto Luzon is fearful of the Manta Diablo . He warns Ramon that Manta will want it back. The discovery of the pearl brings much excitement to the Salazar family and town of La Paz. Ramon’s father decides to give the pearl to the church after an unpleasant and unsuccessful attempt to sell it. It is his hope that the gesture will insure protection for his fleet. On his next trip to sea, the fleet is destroyed during a storm. Blas Salazar and all of his men but one are drowned; the only survivor is Sevillano. When Ramon learns of the tragedy, he realizes that the Indian was right and he decides to return the pearl to the Manta Diablo. Taking the pearl from the church, he sets out by boat for the lagoon. The Sevillano who is determined to have the pearl soon overtakes him. The Manta Diablo appears in the water and circles the boat. The Sevillano harpoons the creature, but in the act is caught in the rope and drowned. Ramon makes his way back to La Paz and returns the pearl to the church.
a little old lady died
Young adult literature
Young-adult fiction or young adult literature , also juvenile fiction, is fiction written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents and young adults, roughly ages 14 to 21. The Young Adult Library Services of the American Library Association defines a young adult as "someone between the...
by Scott O'Dell
Scott O'Dell
Scott O'Dell was an American children's author who wrote 26 novels for young people, along with three novels for adults and four nonfiction books...
first published in 1967
1967 in literature
The year 1967 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Influential science fiction anthology Dangerous Visions published.*Cecil Day-Lewis is selected as the new Poet Laureate of the UK.-New books:...
about the coming of age
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
of the son of a pearl dealer living in the Baja peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. It was a Newbery Honor book in 1967.
Plot summary
The Black Pearl is the story of sixteen-year-old Ramon, who lives with his family in Baja, California-Mexico. When Ramon’s father, Blas Salazar, the most famous pearl dealer in the region, makes his son a partner in the business, it is the happiest day of his life. Gaspar Ruiz, known as the "Sevillano," is the Salazar’s best diver. The Sevillano, however, is a braggart who continually boasts of his great achievements. Ramon believes the Sevillano directs his tales to him more than to anyone else. Ramon’s dream is to find a pearl so large that the Sevillano will have to treat him with respect. To achieve this goal Ramon convinces Soto Luzon, who sells pearls to his father, to teach him to dive for pearl in his lagoon. Soto Luzon, a superstitious Indian, informs Ramon that the Manta Diablo, a giant manta, lives in a cave in the lagoon. Ramon continues to practice his diving in the lagoon, however, and on the fourth day his dream comes true – he finds the great Pearl of Heaven. Although Ramon offers to share his good fortune with the Indian, So to Luzon refuses insisting that the pearl belongs to the Manta Diablo. He warns Ramon that Manta will want it back.The discovery of the pearl brings much excitement to the Salazar family and town of La Paz. Ramon’s father decides to give the pearl to the church after an unpleasant and unsuccessful attempt to sell it. It is his hope that the gesture will insure protection for his fleet. On his next trip to sea, the fleet is destroyed during a storm. Blas Salazar and all of his men but one are drowned; the only survivor is Sevillano. When Ramon learns of the tragedy, he realizes that the Indian was right and he decides to return the pearl to the Manta Diablo. Taking the pearl from the church, he sets out by boat for the lagoon. The Sevillano who is determined to have the pearl soon overtakes him. The Manta Diablo appears in the water and circles the boat. The Sevillano harpoons the creature, but in the act is caught in the rope and drowned. Ramon makes his way back to La Paz and returns the pearl to the church.Film adaptation
In 19771977 in film
The year 1977 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network....
, Saul Swimmer
Saul Swimmer
Saul Swimmer was an American documentary film director and producer best known for the movie The Concert for Bangladesh , the George Harrison-led Madison Square Garden show that was one of the first all-star benefits in rock music...
directed U.S.-Spanish co-production The Black Pearl aka La Perla Negra.
^
This is the story of sixteen-year-old Ramon, who lives with his family in Baja, California-Mexico. When Ramon’s father, Blas Salazar, the most famous pearl dealer in the region, makes his son a partner in the business, it is the happiest day of his life. Gaspar Ruiz, known as the "Sevillano," is the Salazar’s best diver. The Sevillano, however, is a braggart who continually boasts of his great achievements. Ramon believes the Sevillano directs his tales to him more than to anyone else. Ramon’s dream is to find a pearl so large that the Sevillano will have to treat him with respect. To achieve this goal Ramon convinces Soto Luzon, who sells pearls to his father, to teach him to dive for pearls in his lagoon. Soto Luzon, a superstitious Indian, informs Ramon that the Manta Diablo, a giant manta, lives in a cave in the lagoon. Ramon continues to practice his diving in the lagoon, however, and on the fourth day his dream comes true – he finds the great Pearl of Heaven. Although Ramon offers to share his good fortune with the Indian, Soto Luzon is fearful of the Manta Diablo . He warns Ramon that Manta will want it back. The discovery of the pearl brings much excitement to the Salazar family and town of La Paz. Ramon’s father decides to give the pearl to the church after an unpleasant and unsuccessful attempt to sell it. It is his hope that the gesture will insure protection for his fleet. On his next trip to sea, the fleet is destroyed during a storm. Blas Salazar and all of his men but one are drowned; the only survivor is Sevillano. When Ramon learns of the tragedy, he realizes that the Indian was right and he decides to return the pearl to the Manta Diablo. Taking the pearl from the church, he sets out by boat for the lagoon. The Sevillano who is determined to have the pearl soon overtakes him. The Manta Diablo appears in the water and circles the boat. The Sevillano harpoons the creature, but in the act is caught in the rope and drowned. Ramon makes his way back to La Paz and returns the pearl to the church.
See also
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: Moby-DickMoby-DickMoby-Dick; or, The Whale, was written by American author Herman Melville and first published in 1851. It is considered by some to be a Great American Novel and a treasure of world literature. The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod,...
(18511851 in literatureThe year 1851 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:*January 1 - The Georgian theatre company gives its first performance, under the direction of Giorgi Eristavi....
) - John SteinbeckJohn SteinbeckJohn Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
: The PearlThe Pearl (novel)The Pearl is a novella by American author John Steinbeck, published in 1947.- Analysis :A story based on a Mexican folk tale, The Pearl explores the secrets of man's nature, the darkest depths of evil, and the disastrous effects of stepping out of an established system...
(19471947 in literatureThe year 1947 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The Diary of Anne Frank is published for the first time.*Jack Kerouac makes the journey which he will later chronicle in his book On the Road....
) (also set among the pearl divers of La Paz) - Ernest HemingwayErnest HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
: The Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the Sea is a novel written by American author Ernest Hemingway in 1951 in Cuba, and published in 1952. It was the last major work of fiction to be produced by Hemingway and published in his lifetime. One of his most famous works, it centers upon Santiago, an aging fisherman who...
(19521952 in literatureThe year 1952, in literature involved some significant events and new literary publications.-Events:*J. L. Carr takes over as headmaster of Highfields Primary School, Kettering, which will eventually furnish the subject matter for his novel, The Harpole Report.*November 25 - Agatha Christie's play...
) (aging Cuban fisherman struggling with a giant marlinMarlinMarlin, family Istiophoridae, are fish with an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long rigid dorsal fin, which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to derive from its resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike...
)
a little old lady died