Perfect red

Author: (American) Greenfield (Greenfield, A.B.) Author, Tang Fuchun Translated
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The Perfect Red tells the legendary story of cochineal red dye, which was once one of the most valuable commodities in the world. Cochineal red was cherished by the ancient Mexicans until the 16th century, when this dye caught the attention of Spanish conquerors at the Aztec market and was then transported to Europe. Cochineal red stunned all of Europe, creating the most brilliant and strongest reds visible at the time. The Spanish profited immensely from their monopoly on the cochineal red trade, and as a result, the Spanish Empire rose. Soon, Britain, France, the Netherlands, and other European nations joined the pursuit of this exquisite color, a competition that lasted for over three centuries; the fate of European nations was thus changed; pirates, explorers, alchemists, scientists, and spies were involved, beginning their adventures. The Perfect Red is filled with historical charm and a sense of fashion, a land where desire, conspiracy, and adventure thrive.