The Black Opal

"The Black Opal" by Katharine Susannah Prichard is an early 20th-century novel that begins with a sorrowful funeral in the tight-knit community of Fallen Star Ridge. The story follows Sophie as she deals with the loss of her mother, Marya Rouminof, and the emotional state of her father, Paul Rouminof, whose passion for opal mining fills their lives with highs and lows. Narrated through Sophie's eyes, the book examines themes of sorrow, community bonds, and complicated family relationships. The opening shows Sophie and her father traveling through the countryside, overwhelmed by grief, passing familiar sights as their shared mourning reveals Sophie's confusion about her mother's death and her father's unpredictable behavior. Paul's intense desire to discover opal, even amidst tragedy, causes conflict as he seeks to prove himself to the community, while Sophie yearns for comfort. Michael Brady emerges as a key character, offering Sophie support and a pledge to shield her from life's hardships, setting the stage to look at themes of friendship, devotion, and how changing luck affects her future.