From Satan's Crown to the Holy Grail: Emeralds in Myth, Magic, and History by Di

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Morgan discusses the origin of the emerald, its peculiar structure, and its strange allure.

FORMATHardcover LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

Morgan discusses the origin of the emerald, its peculiar structure, and its strange allure. The story weaves across several continents and thousands of years. It is a tale of conquistadors, treachery, shipwrecks, and alchemy. Along the way, we meet scientists and kings and bear witness as the great emeralds are born, mined, smuggled, cut, and sold. The book also discusses the modern art of making synthetic emeralds. From the fastnesses of Afghanistan to the steamy jungles of Colombia and Zimbabwe, from the sands of Egypt to the bitter Urals, this is the story of a stone whose strange journey reflects the yearnings, greed, passions, and longing for beauty of the human race.

Author Biography

Diane Morgan is Adjunct Professor of Philosophy and Religion and author of fourteen books including The Buddhist Experience in America (Greenwood, 2004).

Review

Morgan traces emeralds through time in an interesting mixture of technical information and completely nontechnical to nearly rhetorical discussions. A significant portion of the work emphasizes mythic and magical aspects of emeralds and related minerals, along with people involved (or allegedly so) in the long history of this gemstone….[t]he treatment of emerald discoveries, worldwide distribution, and mining is very thorough and especially useful in its coverage of the past three decades….For those in the gem industry and nonprofessionals interested in the historical and related aspects of emeralds….General readers. * Choice *Morgan begins with legends of the green gemstone. Then she discusses how they come to be, the emerald business, their appearance in world history, the great emeralds, secrets of the trade, and fake emeralds and their kin. * Reference & Research Book News *

Promotional

This book relates the natural, mythical, and social history of the emerald.

Long Description

Morgan discusses the origin of the emerald, its peculiar structure, and its strange allure. The story weaves across several continents and thousands of years. It is a tale of conquistadors, treachery, shipwrecks, and alchemy. Along the way, we meet scientists and kings and bear witness as the great emeralds are born, mined, smuggled, cut, and sold. The book also discusses the modern art of making synthetic emeralds. From the fastnesses of Afghanistan to the steamy jungles of Colombia and Zimbabwe, from the sands of Egypt to the bitter Urals, this is the story of a stone whose strange journey reflects the yearnings, greed, passions, and longing for beauty of the human race.

Review Quote

"Morgan traces emeralds through time in an interesting mixture of technical information and completely nontechnical to nearly rhetorical discussions. A significant portion of the work emphasizes mythic and magical aspects of emeralds and related minerals, along with people involved (or allegedly so) in the long history of this gemstone….[t]he treatment of emerald discoveries, worldwide distribution, and mining is very thorough and especially useful in its coverage of the past three decades….For those in the gem industry and nonprofessionals interested in the historical and related aspects of emeralds….General readers." - Choice

Promotional "Headline"

This book relates the natural, mythical, and social history of the emerald.

Details ISBN0275991237 Author Diane Morgan Short Title FROM SATANS CROWN TO THE HOLY Language English ISBN-10 0275991237 ISBN-13 9780275991234 Media Book Format Hardcover DEWEY 553.86 Year 2007 Imprint Praeger Publishers Inc Subtitle Emeralds in Myth, Magic, and History Place of Publication Westport Country of Publication United States Residence US DOI 10.1604/9780275991234 UK Release Date 2007-03-30 NZ Release Date 2007-03-30 US Release Date 2007-03-30 Audience Age 7-17 Pages 192 Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Publication Date 2007-03-30 Audience General AU Release Date 2007-03-29 We've got this

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