The Black Opal: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Black Opal: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Black Opal is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Prichard, Katharine Susannah (1884–1969).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Black Opal" by Katharine Susannah Prichard is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story opens with a somber funeral procession for Sophie’s mother, Marya Rouminof, highlighting the rural, close-knit community of Fallen Star Ridge. The main character, Sophie, grapples with the loss of her mother and her father, Paul Rouminof, whose fixation on opal mining brings him both excitement and turmoil. Through Sophie's lens, the narrative explores themes of grief, community dynamics, and the complexities of family ties. The opening of the book paints a vivid picture of Sophie and her father as they travel through the plains, shrouded in sadness. As they pass familiar faces and modes of transport, their collective mourning unfolds, underlined by Sophie’s confusion over her mother's death and her father's erratic behavior. Paul’s obsession with finding opal, even in the shadow of tragedy, creates tension as he seeks to assert his worth to the community while Sophie longs for comfort. Michael Brady, a pivotal character, becomes a refuge for Sophie as he promises to protect her from the harsh realities of life beyond the Ridge, setting the stage for further exploration of friendship, loyalty, and the impact of suddenly shifting fortunes.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Black Opal
- Author credits: Prichard, Katharine Susannah (1884–1969)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Opal mines and mining -- Australia -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


