Traces the centuries-long history of the legendary Hope Diamond, from the diamond mines of India, through the violence of the French Revolution, to Gilded Age America, and beyond, looking at the true story behind one of the world's most infamous gems. Reprint.

Product Description: Is culture brokered like stocks, real estate, or marriage? In this engaging book, Richard Kurin shows that cultures are also mediated and indeed brokered by countries, organizations, communities, and individuals -- all with their own vision of the truth and varying abilities to impose it on others...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)