Ruhiyyih Rabbani was the widow of the late Guardian and World Head of the Bahá'í Faith who for thirty-six years shaped its affairs and guided its destiny.

The Priceless Pearl, although biographical in treatment, is what the author preferred to call an appraisal of the life and work of this distinguished, unique and far-visioned man, believing that we stand too near to such a towering figure to assemble, at so early a date, a more detailed record of his achievements.

The panorama of his life, so filled with sorrow and drama, victory and crisis, stretches through the pages of this book in a memorable and moving tale of historic events, ably portrayed by the pen of one who was not only a Bahá'í from birth, but honoured by becoming the wife of the Guardian of her Faith, who served him tirelessly as his personal secretary, who was appointed by him a Hand of the Cause of God and who he stated had been his “shield” during difficult days of his life.