Hope: Adventures of a Diamond

by Marian Fowler

The Hope Diamond — the largest and most beautiful dark blue diamond ever found — has inspired legends and lies, fabulous superstition and fierce passion. For three centuries it passed from hand to hand, and from country to country. It may have served as all-powerful eye in a Hindu statue, was worn by three French kings amidst the splendours of Versailles and was stolen in a farcical jewel heist during the terrors of the French Revolution. Rescued and adored by a rich Dutch art connoisseur, the diamond later became the subject of a long and bitter London court battle, whose every sensational detail was splashed across the tabloid newspapers of the day. Cartier’s Paris atelier acquired it in 1909 and persuaded Washington society hostess Evalyn Walsh McLean to buy it. She wore the gem —when it wasn’t adorning her dog — almost every day of her Great Gatsby life, and even, once, in an operating room. It was only when diamond master Harry Winston donated this prize to the Smithsonian that the Hope was finally accessible to all who wanted to admire it.

A sweeping saga, Adventures of a Diamond is at once a page-turning thriller and a glittering social history. Dazzling and delicious, this is a book truly worthy of its flawless, priceless subject.

Genres: Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published March 26, 2002

About the author

Marian Fowler holds a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Toronto and was the recipient of the Canadian Biography Award. She has taught at York University and is the author of a number of books, including In a Gilded Cage, Below the Peacock Fan, The Embroidered Tent, Blenheim and The Way She Looks Tonight. She lives in Toronto.

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extensively researched history of the infamous blue diamond that has had several names from the French Blue to the Hope.

The book starts with the basic geological formation of diamonds along with the Deccan Plateau (the only source for diamonds for millennia) which India used to decorate religious statues. It then goes into the various owners - starting with Jean-Baptiste Tavernier who brought the diamond from India to the attention of Louis XIV of France. Discussion about the passionate love affair that European royalty had with diamonds with a side trip into diamond cutting and the development of the specialty cuts that enhance the brilliance and fire of these gemstones.

Louis XV who used the French Blue as a part of the insignia of the Golden Fleece. Louis XVI who did not have his father and grandfather's fascination so the French crown jewels languished for the most part until the Revolution. Stolen in 1792, it reappears in 1812 in England already re-cut. Eventually sold to Henry Philip Hope in 1823-1824, a shy and retiring descendant of a family of merchants since the 1720's and gemstones pre-1760 that managed to create the premier diamond and gemstone collection of his time.

It is Philip's ownership that becomes the first of the omissions in the history of the Hope Diamond. During a sale in 1909, reporters used their imaginations flirting with some truths and many lies, creating horrific deaths and disasters impacting some of the owners and wearers - many that may not have even existed!

One of the true stories associated with the stone is that Harry Winston - when he donated the Hope to the Smithsonian Institute to become a centerpiece of it's gem collection - sent it through the U.S. Postal Service. They still have the brown paper packaging with all the stamps.

There were a couple negatives.
The author repeatedly attempts to personify the diamond: talking about it being in the dark, away from the light, ignored, neglected, locked in a dusty drawer, vault or safe deposit box.
Secondly, the black and white photos are not well reproduced. The first chapter has a black and white photo of the Hope in it's traditional setting. It is disappointing that the history of a gemstone renowned for it's unusual color and brilliance only has a color picture on the front and back covers and the dark background dulls the blue.

Overall, an excellent history as long as you're willing to overlook the negatives I mentioned.

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[ExtremeBibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea of an inanimate (albeit famous) object getting a biography may seem outlandish, but Marian Fowler was not intimidated by this task. She traces the life story of the fabled gem from its origins in India through its varied owners-some royals, some businessmen, some merely status seekers-to its eventual and most probably final residence at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. Fowler also debunks some of the myths surrounding the Hope, and actually personifies it in its several incarnations. A very enjoyable read.

[F. Reaume · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story about who owned the Hope Diamond and the circumstances in which they owned it and displayed it.
The diamond itself is a hunk of rock and not terribly interesting beyond a few pages of detail about when and where it was found, cut and displayed.
The real story is who owned it and under what circumstances. This book goes into some detail on that, and is written in a lively, easy reading style.
If you are interested in gems and jewelry this is for you.

[Valerie Drees · Rating 3 out of 5]

No one can fault the level of the author's research and the way she weaves a good story around the facts, giving the 'life' of the diamond a deep context. Some of the details were of less interest to me (the geology and the specifics of diamond cutting, etc.), but the historical background was flawless.

[Dorothy Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very well researched and debunked much of the spurious history of the stone. The fabled curse is imaginary; bad things have happened to its owners, but bad things happen to everyone, and some owners invited catastrophe by their behavior.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I not only learned about the Hope Diamond but also the times/places/people it visited. It's like a tour of different centuries and places, all connected by a precious stone.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meticulously researched, and with a touch of creativity to bring historical figures to life. Over the centuries this gem has laid bare humanity's most passionate qualities, our romanticism and craftsmanship, our greed and vanity. A truly amazing journey in a very readable and well-crafted history book.