The Secret Lives of Stones

ISBN: 9781529394955

Format: Paperback / softback

Author: gid://shopify/Metaobject/110951792876

'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 Hero is an independent Kiwi-owned online bookstore based in Auckland, New Zealand. Our warehouse holds over 20,000 books in stock and we ship our books overnight across the country!

We started Book Hero so that you can enjoy more of the books you love without the long shipping times. Were on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!