Read in English · with German
Read The black pearl in English, with German beside it
by Marie Lion · 1855–1922
"The black pearl" by Marie Lion is a novel written in the early 20th century. It follows Jeanne, a Parisienne orphan transplanted to a South Australian sheep station, whose inherited black pearl ties her to a legendary Indian ancestress and sets off a story of colonial life, romance, and spiritual searching. Drawn between her devoted cousin, the Anglican missioner Hector, and the unsettling allure of Allan Russell, she confronts questions of love, conscience, and destiny against the vivid backdrop of the Australian bush. The opening of the novel presents Jeanne’s arrival at Gwylata, her brisk encounters with stern old Meg, delicate Aunt Molly, and kindly guardian Mr. Deslandes, and her eighteenth‑birthday gift: a pearl necklace centered on a magnificent black pearl. A dream of a rajah and a crucifix mirrors family lore about the Begum Jeanne and hints at reincarnation, just as the real world fills with Anglican services, bush rides with Mac, shearing season, and the dazzling Hunt Club Ball where Allan Russell’s gaze unsettles her. Jeanne nurses the aboriginal child Bahloo, bonds with Hector, and accepts his proposal after a riding accident, only to clash with his strict theology; refusing to take Communion insincerely, she breaks the engagement, and Hector departs to serve lepers in Molokai. Calamity follows at home: her uncle’s finances collapse, he dies suddenly, Aunt Molly soon after, the station is sold, and Jeanne sets out on her own as a governess in New South Wales, where her new household—Mrs. Clarke and two spirited children—greets her with mishaps and warmth.
Summary generated automatically by Project Gutenberg.
- Read time
- 167 min
- Words
- 36,731
- Chapters
- 18
- Paragraphs
- 1,186
- Price
- Free
- French -- Australia -- Fiction
- Man-woman relationships -- Fiction
- Theosophy -- Fiction
- Young women -- Fiction
It is true, my dear uncle is much more interested in his sheep than in church services.
Es ist wahr, mein lieber Onkel interessiert sich viel mehr für seine Schafe als für die Gottesdienste.
But never mind, “le Bon Dieu” will keep a place for him in His Paradise.
Aber keine Sorge, „le Bon Dieu“ wird ihm im Paradies einen Platz aufbewahren.
About the author
Marie Lion1855–1922
Marie Lion (1855–1922) was a French-Australian novelist, artist, and teacher who spent forty years in Australia with her sister Berthe Mouchette.
The Marie Lion page, and where to start →Read it in another language
Questions about The black pearl
Can I read The black pearl in English with German side by side online?
Yes, free. Paralelo shows the English original with a German machine translation beside it, aligned phrase by phrase: hover or tap a phrase and its counterpart lights up in the other column. Anyone can read a passage; a free account opens the whole book.
What level do I need to read The black pearl here?
There is no set level. The black pearl runs to 36,731 words in 18 chapters, and the translation sits beside it, aligned phrase by phrase, so you can start below the level the original would need on its own and lean on the translation only where you stumble.
Is The black pearl really free to read?
Yes. The text is in the public domain, and the translation and alignment are ours to give. A free account opens the whole book; the paid tier is for unlimited explanations.
Can I read The black pearl in another language?
Yes. It is also published in Spanish, French, Italian, and switching keeps your place, because both columns share one paragraph numbering.
How long does The black pearl take to read?
About 3 hours at a normal pace, longer if you stop to look at the alignment, which is rather the point.
Book details
- Original language
- English
- Translation
- German, machine translation
- Source text
- Project Gutenberg #78087
- Licence
- Public domain worldwide
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