Spanning centuries and continents, a beautifully illustrated history of humanitys enduring enthrallment with a seemingly banal substance: petrified tree sap, or amber. This book is a history of human engagement with amber across three millennia. The book vividly describes our conceptions, stories, and political and scholarly disputes about amber, as well as issues of national and personal identity, religion, art, literature, music, and science. Rachel King rewrites ambers history for the 21st century, tackling thorny ethical and moral questions regarding humanitys relationship with amber in the past, as well our connection with it today. With the Earth facing unprecedented challenges, amber - the natural time capsule, and preserver of key information about the planets evolutional history - promises to offer invaluable insights into what comes next. |