Description

Book Synopsis

''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 Lapidarium, 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 am

The Secret Lives of Stones

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    £12.34

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    RRP £12.99 – you save £0.65 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Wed 29 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback by Hettie Judah

    4 in stock

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      Publisher: John Murray Press
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 10/24/2024
      ISBN13: 9781529394955, 978-1529394955
      ISBN10: 1529394953
      Also in:
      History General and world history

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      ''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 Lapidarium, 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 am

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