Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem

Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem

Since its discovery in seventeenth-century India, the Hope diamond, a glimmering deep-blue gem weighing more than 45 carats, has been shrouded in mystery and steeped in intrigue. In this groundbreaking work, Dr. Richard Kurin goes beyond the speculation to reveal the truth behind a legendary stone.
The Hope diamond's history is tied to the French Revolution, the machinations of British King George IV, the Gilded Age in America, and a number of adept jewelers, including Pierre Cartier and Harry Winston. In the twentieth century, the story of the Hope diamond's curse made it more famous than ever before; some six million people visit it every year at the Smithsonian Institution. But this legend, which Kurin puts to rest once and for all, is only one small piece of a long and lustrous story that moves between ancient religion and modern magic, royal power and class rivalry, revenge and greed.
Kurin, a cultural anthropologist, has spent more than a decade on the trail of the legendary gem. His narrative is filled with fascinating places and people - from the fabled diamond city of Golconda to the fabulously rich heiress Evalyn McClean to Jackie Kennedy and her role in one of the Hope's few twentieth-century trips abroad. Richly illustrated, Hope Diamond works in a grand historical tradition - depicting the specific to reveal the universal.
Country USA
Brand Smithsonian Books
Manufacturer Smithsonian Books
Binding Hardcover
ItemPartNumber 0060873515_Good
ReleaseDate 2006-05-09
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780060873516

Country	USA
Brand	Smithsonian Books
Manufacturer	Smithsonian Books
Binding	Hardcover
ItemPartNumber	0060873515_Good
ReleaseDate	2006-05-09
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780060873516

Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem

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