[audiobook] Building Type Basics for Places of Worship by Nicholas W. Roberts in Arts-Photography

Description

A Perfect Red recounts the colorful history of cochineal; a legendary red dye that was once one of the worlds 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 Spains cochineal monopoly was worth a fortune. Desperate to find their own sources of the elusive dye; the English; French; 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 more than three centuries. A Perfect Red tells their stories -- true-life tales of mystery; empire; and adventure; in pursuit of the most desirable color on earth.