Description
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend but the beauty, rarity and fascinating lore of this precious stone have intrigued man through the ages.
Why were men so enamoured of the diamond that they were willing to maim, torture or kill for it? What can explain the many stories of greed and corruption that surround diamonds more than any other gemstone? How important was the diamond in influencing the course of history?
Leo P. Kendall reveals how the diamond was perceived through the ages as an indestructible tool and cutting instrument, a poison, a medicine, a currency almost beyond value, even a love potion.
From the compelling account of the colonialist Cecil Rhodes, to the De Beers mines, the world's major source of diamonds; all of the major diamond finds are examined here in detail. Many know of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the so-called 'Queen of Diamonds', but apart from the travels of the legendary Hope Diamond (which led to numerous tragedies before finding a permanent home in Smithsonian Institute), the history of other great stones has been largely ignored.
Diamonds: Famous and Fatal sheds new light on the myths, facts and fiction surrounding the world's most precious Jewel.
