Celebrating a year on the national bestseller charts, Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier boasts 1,174,132 copies in print after 18 trips to press. The first printing of the Plume paperback was 120,000 copies. It is one of those rare first novels that was embraced by both chains and independents, making it one of the most successful handsells. Another sales plus was that Chevalier's book is one of the most popular selections for reading groups.