The Love of Stones - Softcover

Hill, Tobias

Softcover

ISBN 10: 057120998X ISBN 13: 9780571209989

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2002

Synopsis

An epic story spanning two continents and six centuries, The Love of Stones follows three very different people, each in their own way consumed by a desire that borders on obsession. Their quest is for the Three Brethren, a legendary jewel that casts a shadow over all that come in contact with it . . .

'A master of the historical thriller.' Adam Mars-Jones, Observer

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 bold and intricate novel, a complex tapestry that ranges across time and space, but with a single theme: the manipulative power of exceptional jewels.' Penelope Lively, Independent 'A compelling thriller... Slicing through six centuries in a single sweep, the historic structure on to which Hill has crafted a gripping yarn binds together his themes about greed and ambition, and about our urge to possess the past in a vain quest for immortality.' Naomi Gryn, The Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 057120998X
• ISBN 13: 9780571209989
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480