First published 1947
Kino dives for pearls in the waters off his coastal village, supporting his wife Juana and infant son Coyotito through this dangerous work. When he discovers an enormous pearl, Kino sees it as salvation. The pearl will pay for a church wedding with Juana and schooling for Coyotito, lifting the family from poverty. But the discovery awakens something darker in Kino and spreads through his community like poison. Neighbors who once helped each other now watch with envy and suspicion. The pearl dealers conspire to cheat him. Violence follows Kino wherever he goes. As his dreams of a better life crumble, Kino must choose between the wealth he has found and the family he loves. Steinbeck crafts a story that strips away illusion to reveal how quickly fortune can corrupt the human heart.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, adventure
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: corruption, greed, man-vs-society
Setting: Coastal Village
Period: 20th Century
97 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books Ltd
Content warnings: violence