Description
In the sixteenth century, one of the world's most precious commodities was cochineal, a legendary red dye treasured by the ancient Mexicans and sold in the great Aztec marketplaces, where it attracted the attention of the Spanish conquistadors. 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. As the English, French, Dutch, and other Europeans joined the chase for cochineal -- a chase that lasted for more than three centuries -- a tale of pirates, explorers, alchemists, scientists, and spies unfolds. A Perfect Red evokes with style and verve this history of a grand obsession, of intrigue, empire, and adventure in pursuit of the most desirable color on earth.
Author: Amy Butler Greenfield
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Published: 04/25/2006
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.61lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.28w x 0.87d
ISBN13: 9780060522766
ISBN10: 0060522763
BISAC Categories:
- History | World | General
- Art | Techniques | Color
- Technology & Engineering | Chemical & Biochemical