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Synopsis
A PERFECT RED recounts the colourful history of cochineal, a legendary red dye that was once one of the world's most precious commodities. Treasured by the ancient Mexicans, cochineal was sold in the great Aztec marketplaces, where it attracted the attention of the Spanish conquistadors in 1519. Shipped to Europe, the dye created a sensation, producing the brightest, strongest red the world had ever seen. Soon Spain's cochineal monopoly was worth a fortune. Desperate to find their own sources of the elusive dye, the English, the French, the Dutch, and other Europeans tried to crack the enigma of cochineal. Did it come from a worm, a berry, a seed? Could it be stolen from Mexico and transplanted to their own colonies? Pirates, explorers, alchemists, scientists, and spies — all joined the chase for cochineal, a chase that lasted for more than three centuries. A PERFECT RED tells their stories — true-life tales of mystery, empire, and adventure, in pursuit of the most desirable colour on earth.
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Review
'Combines scientific explanations...with an understanding of the economic workings of empire...grippingly related.' -- Times Literary Supplement
'Delightful, rollicking history of red.' -- Los Angeles Times
'Superbly researched history of cochineal red, full of angles and tangents, curiosities and arcana...sprightly and charming.' -- Washington Post
'To find out why the Chancellor wears a bright red tie and teenage mums wear candy-pink tracksuits ...an eye-opener.' -- Literary Review
Book Description
A dramatic history of cochineal, the small Mexican beetle whose precious red dye provoked global intrigue and piracy from medieval times to the present day.
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- PublisherDoubleday
- Publication date2005
- ISBN 10 0385605153
- ISBN 13 9780385605151
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages352
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A Perfect Red : Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire
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