dejla
in
fripperies
A non-fiction book rec
A Perfect Red
The book describes the search for a perfect red dye. On the way, you travel through the various countries and intrigues involved in finding a substance that will yield a true red dye. Since the most famous natural red dye is cochineal, which is found primarily in Central America, a great deal of the history concerns the Spanish presence in the Americas and their relationships with the indigenous populations, as well as the disintegration of the Spanish Empire. Good sections on pre-Napoleonic Spain and the changes after the Napoleonic Wars, and since I like this kind of history, I really enjoyed.
The book describes the search for a perfect red dye. On the way, you travel through the various countries and intrigues involved in finding a substance that will yield a true red dye. Since the most famous natural red dye is cochineal, which is found primarily in Central America, a great deal of the history concerns the Spanish presence in the Americas and their relationships with the indigenous populations, as well as the disintegration of the Spanish Empire. Good sections on pre-Napoleonic Spain and the changes after the Napoleonic Wars, and since I like this kind of history, I really enjoyed.