Amber: Tears of the Gods [Hardcover]

Neil Clark (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1906716161 | ISBN-13: 978-1906716165 | Publication Date: February 11, 2010

Once a treasure more valuable than gold, amber has had a fascinating and turbulent history - a history that shaped the economies of the Baltic States. The mysterious qualities of amber have caused it to be collected, treasured, and admired since ancient times. Over thousands of years, many interesting theories have been advanced as to amber's origin and nature. For all its varieties, colors, and forms, every piece of amber originated as tree resin, fossilized over millions of years. Amber: Tears of the Gods is an extremely enjoyable introduction to this extraordinary substance, explaining exactly what amber is and where it came from. Author Neil Clark delves into the myths and legends which have contributed to the folklore of amber and takes the reader on a historical journey across the trade routes of Europe. He enlightens the reader to amber's many intriguing uses and ends by describing amber's surprising significance to modern science. As a beautifully illustrated and constructed survey, Amber: Tears of the Gods encompasses: 40 million year old forests, the palaces of European royal families, the strange and superstitious practices of the Scottish Highlands, and the modern palaeontologists' discoveries of insects new to science. This book is written for collectors, scientists, and those simply wishing to better understand and appreciate the wonderful artifacts and curiosities that have been created from the 'tears of the gods.'

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The chapter on fossil inclusions (insects, arachnids, plants and small reptiles) is undoubtedly fascinating, but I also got drawn into his description of the multifaceted world of amber - its geological origins, its history, its mythology, its science and its identification. Clark covers all this and more without ever getting too heavily involved in the minutae and, for this reason, his book is an intriguing mine of information. It is also beautifully illustrated and full of fascinating titbits - I thoroughly recommend it.' Deposits Magazine 'Amber, Tears of the Gods' would be a good addition to anyone's bookshelf. Gems and Jeweller

About the Author

Neil Clark is the Curator of Palaeontology at the Hunterian Museum in the University of Glasgow.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Dunedin Academic Press Ltd. (February 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906716161
• ISBN-13: 978-1906716165
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,609,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A worthy addition to public and college library collections, highly recommended, July 12, 2010

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amber: Tears of the Gods (Hardcover)

Strikingly illustrated with full-color photography on almost every page, Amber: Tears of the Gods is a scientific and historical tour of the substance of amber, accessible to readers of all backgrounds. From amber's origins, folklore, and usage in trade, to its incorporation in art and how it has superbly preserved insect fossils, Amber: Tears of the Gods is a captivating exploration of this material and its role in both natural and human history, and a joy to simply page through. A worthy addition to public and college library collections, highly recommended.