Diamond

By: Matthew Hart

Narrated by: Daniel Gerroll

On a hot morning in May 1999, three Brazilian garimpeiros(small-scale miners) found a large pink diamond in the muddy waters of the Abaete River, a discovery that captivated the diamond trade. Beginning with this dramatic and revealing story, Matthew Hart takes readers on a journey far beyond the window at Tiffany's, into an obsessive, largely hidden, and utterly fascinating world.

From the fog-bound smugglers' paradise of Africa's Diamond Coast to the Manhattan offices of one of the world's most flamboyant diamantaires; from the London salesrooms of De Beers, which manages the longest-running cartel in modern business history, to a truck-parts shop fronting a diamond brokerage in Brazil, Matthew Hart has followed the diamond trail, encountering characters as memorable as the stones they seek. He recreates the modern history of diamonds, starting in 1869 when a native boy in South Africa found a large crystal on a farm, sparking a rush that brought Cecil Rhodes and Ernest Oppenheimer their glory. He chronicles the sensational diamond strike in the 1990s in Canada's Northwest Territories that has shaken the fortress of the old cartel, and profiles the audacious young female geologist Eira Thomas who, against all odds, discovered near the Arctic Circle one of the richest diamond fields in the world. He watches one of the finest diamond cutters operating on a priceless stone and portrays the lives of the countless, nameless cutters in India who have transformed the industry by making valuable the tiny stones that were once considered worthless.

Diamonds also have their dark side. "Malfeasance rustles in the background of the diamond world like a snake in dry grass," writes Hart as he documents the relentless and ingenious thievery that pervades the business and the even more damaging revelations of "war diamonds" financing brutal conflicts in Africa. The diamond world is at a crossroads, he notes, and "who will rule diamonds now and what form the once-secretive business will take are the issues of the day."

In the end, it is the stone itself that fascinates and bewitches the reader. Diamonds are accidents of nature, carbon crystals compressed deep underground millions of years ago; parts of them may even predate the Earth itself. And they are elusive, carried to the surface only in slender volcanoes known as "pipes," most of which are actually barren. Matthew Hart has captured the essence of an exotic substance and its world as surely as a diamond captures light: bending it, reflecting it, and returning it in a blaze of color.Executive Producer: Jacob Bronstein
Producer: Robert Kessler
Abridgement by David Smith
©2001 Matthew Hart
(P)2001 Random House, Inc.
Published by arrangement with Walker Publishing Company, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Hart tells a great story while explaining one of the world's most mysterious industries. The book is first-rate and immensely readable." —Sebastian Junger

"A splendid account." —National Geographic Adventure Magazine

"[Hart] has captured an elemental magic in this engaging book." —The Seattle Times

Informative and Entertaining

This audio book was wonderful. It is exciting, informative, and dramatic. It is more like a novel than anything else, with villians, good guys, and even a heroine. The science and engineering involved are clearly explained without useless jargon. And the narrator is perfect for the role. One of the best audio books I have ever heard. Highest rating.

A good listen

This book was very informative, I never thought diamonds were this interesting. Though it dragged on in some parts, the entire story is awesome, and teaches a lot about geology and one of the most lucrative markets.

Well done history

I am interested in diamonds so the boring aspects of the book are still interesting to me. A very nice history of diamonds that does not gloss the seedy side of the trade. Tremendous characters are stranger than fiction.

Very good and nearly comprehensive

Excellent narration of a compelling book. The author has balanced well the history, science, aesthetic, adventure, and intrigue of the diamond world over the last hundred years or so (with occasional detours farther back). I would have appreciated a little more information on some of the environmental pitfalls of diamond mining, but overall the exploration is quite fascinating.

A Fascinating Read!

Would you consider the audio edition of Diamond to be better than the print version?

I do not know since I didn't read the print version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Diamond?

Learning how kimberlite is used to detect where diamonds may be.

Which scene was your favorite?

I love the part where they pull up a core sample with a 2+ carat diamond in it and the lead geologist sleeps with the core sample under her pillow the night before she flies home to show it to her father! A true reward for their hard work.

Any additional comments?

A fascinating way to see the journey of diamonds in the world.