The Love of Stones - Hardcover

Hill, Tobias

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312287739 ISBN 13: 9780312287733

Publisher: Picador USA, 2002

Synopsis

A powerful saga, spanning two continents and six centuries, follows three very different people--Katherine, who is searching for a brooch of rubies, diamonds, and pearls once worn by Queen Elizabeth; and a pair of Iraqi Jewish brothers who become rich upon their discovery of a jar filled with enigmatic and priceless stones--whose lives are connected by one precious gem, the Three Brethren.

About this title

Review:

"The lives of stones are the lives of the dead; which always lead back, never ahead." So says Katherine Sterne, a woman whose life is devoted to searching for a single jewel. "The Three Brethren", a brooch fashioned from rubies, diamonds and pearls has been in existence since the 15th century, passing through the hands of Europe's monarchs and, in spite of its exquisite beauty, leaving a trail of bloodshed and ruin in its wake. Captivated by the jewel's dark history, Katherine finds herself on an increasingly perilous quest to discover its current whereabouts. Searching the hidden quarters of modern-day London, Istanbul and Tokyo, she enters a world steeped in greed and ambition, a world where men are prepared to kill to safeguard the Brethren's secrets.

Two hundred years earlier, in 1833, a pair of Iraqi Jewish brothers leave Babylon, possessing only the clothes on their backs, and a hoard of precious stones. Arriving in London, they become jewellers to the new Queen, Victoria, and discover that friendship and loyalty are the most precious commodities of all.

Part love story, part historical thriller, The Love of Stones is a compelling excursion into the enduring qualities of human obsession. There is always a danger that novels so meticulously researched can become too heavy on the detail, neglecting the need to entertain in favour of lecturing the reader. But Hill's narrative is constructed with craftsman-like care, balancing the treasure-trove of fact with a story rich in insight and, ultimately, hope. --Matthew Baylis

Review:

'A brilliant mixture of thriller writing, historical research and pure poetry. A wonderful book.' Daily Mail

About this edition

• Publisher: Picador USA
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0312287739
• ISBN 13: 9780312287733
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 396