Large ImageThe Heartless Stone: A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit, and Desire
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"Sparkling debut from adventuresome journalist... who traveled the world to tell the dirty, glorious and sometime bloody story of diamonds" (Kirkus, starred).
"Still want a diamond? Before laying out your cash, Zoelnner advises that you first understand its origins... An informative book that's equal parts history and travelogue." -- Rocky Mountain News
An American Library Association Notable Book
When he proposed to his girlfriend, Tom Zoellner gave what is expected of every American man -- a diamond engagement ring. But when the relationship broke apart, he was left with a used diamond that began to haunt him. His obsession carried him around the globe: from the "blood diamond" rings of Africa; to the sweltering polishing factories of India; to mines above the Arctic Circle; to illegal diggings in Brazil; to the London headquarters of De Beers, the secretive global colossus that has dominated the industry for more than a century and permanently carved the phrase "A diamond is forever" on the psyche. An adventure story in the tradition of Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief, The Heartless Stone is a voyage into the cold heart of the world's most unyielding gem.
"Exhaustively researched and beautifully written." -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Zoellner has an eye for the telling detail, a nose for trouble, and an ability to quickly re-create a scene's mood and sense of place. Wherever he is, he puts you there... A graceful, well-documented tour through decades of diamond-related lore." -- Salon.com
"An illuminating exposé of a mineral and an industry." -- The Wall Street Journal
"[A] dazzling display of intrepid reporting." -- Entertainment Weekly
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