Floating Gold: A Natural (& Unnatural) History of Ambergris
May 2012 · University of Chicago Press
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About this ebook
“Kemp’s adventure-filled journey into the often-bizarre world of ambergris takes us from whale innards to remote islands. A compelling narrative.” —Philip Hoare, author of The Whale
“Preternaturally hardened whale dung” is not the first image that comes to mind when we think of perfume, otherwise a symbol of glamour and allure. But the key ingredient that makes the sophisticated scent linger on the skin is precisely this bizarre digestive by-product—ambergris. Despite being one of the world’s most expensive substances (its value is nearly that of gold and has at times in history been triple it), ambergris is also one of the world’s least known. But with this unusual and highly alluring book, Christopher Kemp promises to change that by uncovering the unique history of ambergris.
Kemp’s journey begins with an encounter on a New Zealand beach with a giant lump of faux ambergris—determined after much excitement to nothing more exotic than lard—that inspires a comprehensive quest to seek out ambergris and its story. He takes us from the wild, rocky New Zealand coastline to Stewart Island, a remote, windswept island in the southern seas, to Boston and Cape Cod, and back again. Along the way, he tracks down the secretive collectors and traders who populate the clandestine modern-day ambergris trade.
Floating Gold is an entertaining and lively history that covers not only these precious gray lumps and those who covet them, but presents a highly informative account of the natural history of whales, squid, ocean ecology, and even a history of the perfume industry. Kemp’s obsessive curiosity is infectious, and eager readers will feel as though they have stumbled upon a precious bounty of this intriguing substance.
Ratings and reviews
4.3
3 reviews
About the author
Christopher Kemp is a scientist living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of The Lost Species: Great Expeditions in the Collections of Natural History Museums, also published by the University of Chicago Press, and Dark and Magical Places: The Neuroscience of Navigation.
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