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The Secret Lives of Stones
'A real cabinet of curiosities' SUNDAY TIMES
Brief Description
'A delightful storybook . . . a portrait of our whole world created from the contents of the ground' Literary Review 'A real cabinet of curiosities' Sunday Times From the hematite used in cave paintings to the moldavite that became a TikTok sensation; from the stolen...
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See moreA fascinating history of stones and the surprising ways they have - and continue to - shape, influence and inspire us, in a beautiful volume.
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Description
'A delightful storybook . . . a portrait of our whole world created from the contents of the ground' Literary Review
'A real cabinet of curiosities' Sunday Times
From the hematite used in cave paintings to the moldavite that became a TikTok sensation; from the stolen sandstone of Scone to the unexpected acoustics of Stonehenge; from crystal balls to compasses, rocks and minerals have always been central to our story.
3,000 years ago Babylonians constructed lapidaries - books that tried to pin down the magical secrets of rocks. In The Secret Lives of Stones, renowned art critic Hettie Judah explores the unexpected stories behind sixty stones that have shaped and inspired human history, from Dorset fossil-hunters to Chinese philosophers, Catherine the Great to Michelangelo.
Discover why alchemists sought cinnabar and sulphur. Unearth the mystery of the tuff statues of Rapa Nui, the lost amber room of Frederick of Prussia and the scandal of Flint Jack. Find out how a Greek monster created coral, moon rock explains the history of Earth's only satellite and obsidian inspired the world's favourite computer game.
Stone by stone, story by fascinating story, The Secret Lives of Stones builds into a dazzling, epoch-spanning adventure through human culture, and beyond.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781529394955
Publisher: John Murray Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 24 October 2024
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: John Murray Publishers Ltd
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 32.0mm
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 540g
Pages: 336
About the Author
HETTIE JUDAH is a curator, broadcaster and one of Britain's leading writers on art. She has a monthly column for Apollo magazine and is a regular contributor to the Guardian, Frieze, Times Literary Supplement and BBC Radio 4's Front Row. Her recent books include Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood (Thames & Hudson, 2024). She lives in London.
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