A Perfect Red recounts the colorful 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, French, 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 more than three centuries. A Perfect Red tells their stories -- true-life tales of mystery, empire, and adventure, in pursuit of the most desirable color on earth.
A Perfect Red recounts the colorful 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, French, 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 more than three centuries. A Perfect Red tells their stories -- true-life tales of mystery, empire, and adventure, in pursuit of the most desirable color on earth.
A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire
352
A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire
352Related collections and offers
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780061980893 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Publication date: | 10/06/2009 |
| Sold by: | HARPERCOLLINS |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 352 |
| File size: | 3 MB |
About the Author
What People are Saying About This
Customer Reviews
Explore More Items
Now available in a single volume, E L James's New York Times #1 bestselling trilogy has been hailed by Entertainment Weekly as being "in a class by itself." Beginning with the GoodReads Choice Award
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
Daunted by the singular tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia
"Christian, I've been yours since I said yes." I scoot forward, cupping his beloved face in my hands. "I'm yours. I will always be yours, husband of mine. Now, I think you're wearing too many
Sie ist 21, Literaturstudentin und in der Liebe nicht allzu erfahren. Doch dann lernt Ana Steele den reichen und ebenso unverschämt
1452. A Konstantinápolyban élő, örökké kíváncsi Anna régi kéziratra bukkan egy kolostor romjai között. Az egy égi város után
Ahora en la gran pantalla Cuando la estudiante de literatura Anastasia Steele recibe el encargo de entrevistar al exitoso y joven empresario Christian Grey, queda impresionada al encontrarse ante un
See the world of Fifty Shades of Grey anew through the eyes of Christian Grey—a fresh perspective on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the world.
"Please don't bite
E L James revisits the world of Fifty Shades with a deeper and darker take on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the globe.
"I've never felt this desire, this . . . hunger
An instant #1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and international bestseller!
Relive the sensuality, the romance, and the drama of Fifty Shades Freed through the thoughts, reflections,
This exclusive ebook collection brings together the
A canny young woman is struggling to survive by perpetrating various levels
La ville de Wind gap dans le Missouri est sous le choc : une petite fille a disparu. Déjà l'été dernier, une enfant avait été sauvagement assassinée… Une