Diamonds: Famous and Fatal : The History, Mystery and Lore of the World's Most Precious Gem

Diamonds: Famous and Fatal : The History, Mystery and Lore of the World's Most Precious Gem by Kendall, Leo P.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781569802021.

In Diamonds: Famous and Fatal, Leo Kendall gathers both well-known and obscure facts and stories about diamonds, and interweaves these tales with the general history of the diamond. While the stories themselves are fabulous and strange, the history of the diamond is one of glittering allure and dark mystery. Everyone has heard the enigmatic stories of the Koh-i-Noor and Hope diamonds. But few know the bloody history of the "Moon of the Mountains," or the role that diamonds played in financing the intrigues of the royal houses of Europe and Russia. How many have heard the tale of the largest planned jewel robbery in history, in which many of the worlds finest and most famous diamonds disappeared forever? The beauty, rarity, and lore of the diamond is the material of this remarkable book. Bizarre beliefs and events characterize the history of diamonds giving them a weighty impact on social history. The physical, spiritual, and emotional invincibility of the diamond is fully captured in this illustrated volume, making it a fascinating read.