Chapter 19: Excerpt from Resurrection – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This page discusses the content of Chapter 19 of Happiness by Danielle Steel. Since this chapter is a promotional excerpt from Steel’s novel Resurrection, the discussion focuses on the blurb and its thematic resonance rather than plot events from the main Happiness story. No spoilers for Happiness are included beyond what appears in the chapter itself.
Summary
Chapter 19 of Happiness is not a continuation of the main narrative but rather a sample of Danielle Steel’s forthcoming novel Resurrection. The chapter consists of a title page, a note to “look for” the book, and a brief description. The blurb introduces a woman who appears to have an ideal life—seemingly perfect in every way—until a sudden collapse forces her to rebuild. The excerpt promises a story about learning to find joy “in rising above” adversity. No characters are named, and no specific plot points are revealed beyond this premise. The excerpt serves as a marketing preview, placed at the end of the Happiness volume to give readers a taste of Steel’s next release. Its inclusion offers a thematic bridge: both books explore resilience and personal transformation after crisis, though Resurrection appears to focus more centrally on the aftermath of a shattered public image.
Key Events
- The chapter presents the opening page of Resurrection, a novel by Danielle Steel described as “coming soon in hardcover.”
- A blurb announces the story: a woman whose perfect life “comes crashing down” and who must learn to find joy again.
- No narrative events from Happiness occur in this chapter; it is a standalone promotional excerpt.
- The excerpt ends with the tagline “who learns to find joy in rising above,” which mirrors the central themes of Happiness.
Character Development
No character development takes place in Chapter 19 because the excerpt does not contain any dialogue, action, or interiority from the main cast of Happiness. The unnamed protagonist of Resurrection is introduced only through the blurb’s premise. Readers learn that she is a woman whose seemingly perfect life unravels, but neither her name, age, nor background is provided. Because this is a sample, no arc or transformation is depicted; the promise of change is implied by the description of her learning to “find joy” after a fall. Within the context of Happiness, this absence of development reinforces the chapter’s function as a break from the main story rather than a part of it.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Actually Evidenced Here
- Resilience and Rebuilding: The blurb explicitly states that the protagonist’s life “comes crashing down” and that she learns to rise above. This theme echoes the core message of Happiness, where the main characters also face loss and seek new purpose.
- The Illusion of Perfection: The phrase “seemingly perfect life” suggests that appearances can be deceptive. This motif runs through Steel’s work, often questioning the gap between public image and private reality.
- Joy as an Active Choice: The tagline emphasizes learning to find joy, implying that happiness is not a passive state but something cultivated deliberately. This idea ties directly to the title of the book in which this excerpt appears.
- The Excerpt as a Paratext: The inclusion of a preview for an upcoming novel can be seen as a commercial motif—an invitation to continue reading Steel’s oeuvre. It also serves as a thematic coda, reinforcing the novel’s message of hope and transformation.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 19 is a brief but intentional structural choice. By placing a sample of Resurrection at the end of Happiness, Danielle Steel creates a seamless thematic handoff between two books. For readers who have just completed a story about healing and second chances, the excerpt promises another tale of resilience. The chapter matters less as a narrative unit and more as a marketing and thematic bridge. It reminds readers that Steel’s body of work consistently explores how people overcome devastation. In a practical sense, it also serves as an advertisement, encouraging readers to anticipate the next release. For those studying Happiness, this chapter offers a moment to reflect on how the novel’s core motifs—rising from hardship, finding joy after loss—are not unique to this story but are recurring concerns in the author’s catalog.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why do you think the author chose to include a preview of Resurrection at the end of Happiness? What effect does this have on the reader?
Author Danielle Steel likely included the excerpt to build anticipation for her next book while reinforcing the emotional themes of Happiness. For readers who felt moved by the main story, the preview offers a familiar promise of hope, encouraging them to continue reading her work. It also creates a sense of continuity, suggesting that the journey of transformation is ongoing in her fiction.
2. Based solely on the blurb, what do you expect the protagonist of Resurrection to be like? What clues about her character can you infer from the description?
The blurb describes her as having a “seemingly perfect life,” which implies she is successful, possibly wealthy, and admired by others. The fact that her life “comes crashing down” suggests a dramatic reversal—perhaps public scandal, personal betrayal, or financial ruin. Her ability to “find joy in rising above” indicates she is determined, reflective, and willing to change. Without a name or specifics, these traits are broad but align with Steel’s typical protagonists.
3. Compare the theme of “rising above” in this excerpt with the journey of the main character(s) in Happiness. In what ways do the two stories seem to overlap?
In Happiness, the central characters also face profound loss and must rebuild their lives. Annabelle Farrish, for example, starts over after her husband’s death and finds new purpose through her work and a new relationship. The excerpt from Resurrection mirrors this arc: a woman whose life is shattered must learn to find joy again. Both narratives emphasize that happiness is not a permanent state but something that can be reclaimed after crisis. The shared language of “rising above” underscores Steel’s consistent message that resilience is possible.
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