Book description
A Perfect Red recounts the colourful history of cochineal, a
legendary red dye that was once one of the world's most precious
commodities. Treasured by the ancient Mexicans, cochineal was sold in
the great Aztec marketplaces, where it attracted the attention of the
Spanish conquistadors in 1519. Shipped to Europe, the dye created a
sensation, producing the brightest, strongest red the world had ever
seen. Soon Spain's cochineal monopoly was worth a fortune.
Desperate to find their own sources of the elusive dye, the English,
the French, the Dutch, and other Europeans tried to crack the enigma
of cochineal. Did it come from a worm, a berry, a seed? Could it be
stolen from Mexico and transplanted to their own colonies? Pirates,
explorers, alchemists, scientists, and spies - all joined the chase
for cochineal, a chase that lasted for more than three centuries. A
Perfect Red tells their stories - true-life tales of mystery,
empire, and adventure, in pursuit of the most desirable colour on earth.
AMY BUTLER GREENFIELD studied Spanish medieval history at Harvard and
Oxford. She is descended from a family of textile dyers and is a member
of the dyers guild in London.
