, the writing of The French Blue took a bit over 5 years.
I am always fascinated with trade customs practiced in History.
Hey Richard,Date: 11/21/2009 10:19:19 AM
Author: Richard W. Wise
Andrey,
Thank you for posting John Pollard's very thoughtful review of The French Blue.
Giving advise to a young author, Ernest Hemingway once said; 'write what you know.' After the publication of Secrets Of The Gem Trade, I really wanted the challenge of a novel. Writing about the life, loves and journeys of one of the most remarkable men of the 17th Century, Jean Baptiste Tavernier provided me an opportunity to take my own experience as an international gem dealer together with my love of history to fashion a novel that,I hope, will bring alive the milieu of the 17th Century gem trade.
Tavernier's six voyages took place over 40 years (1630-166
The book is available on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, Borders and at fine bookstores everywhere. May it provide you many happy hours. Please write and let me know what you think.
Did you have a chance to read J. B. Tavernier''s Travels in India?Date: 11/21/2009 12:40:44 PM
Author: John Pollard
Hey Richard,Date: 11/21/2009 10:19:19 AM
Author: Richard W. Wise
Andrey,
Thank you for posting John Pollard''s very thoughtful review of The French Blue.
Giving advise to a young author, Ernest Hemingway once said; ''write what you know.'' After the publication of Secrets Of The Gem Trade, I really wanted the challenge of a novel. Writing about the life, loves and journeys of one of the most remarkable men of the 17th Century, Jean Baptiste Tavernier provided me an opportunity to take my own experience as an international gem dealer together with my love of history to fashion a novel that,I hope, will bring alive the milieu of the 17th Century gem trade.
Tavernier''s six voyages took place over 40 years (1630-166
The book is available on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, Borders and at fine bookstores everywhere. May it provide you many happy hours. Please write and let me know what you think.
It was my pleasure. I tend to read a lot of gemological writing and most of it is quite dry. It was delightful to have a page-turner at home. In fact I purposely did not take the book on business trips because it felt more ''right'' to curl up evenings with no distractions but Jean-Baptise and a glass of wine. Hard to do that with the GIA Lab Manual.
Congratulations again.
True, but well worth itDate: 2/8/2010 6:45:25 PM
Author: Pandora II
Just wanted to add my 0.02 pence...
My husband bought me a copy of this for xmas and despite not having many reading hours due to the baby, I have been enjoying this book immensely.
A fantastic tale - Tavernier is brought to life and I am as excited as he must have been to see what discoveries each voyage will bring. Richard, you have done a sterling job in bringing together historical fact, a big dose of gemmological education and wrapping it all in a totally believable and face-paced narrative. I''ve learnt a lot.
I have yet to finish it - Tavernier - and I - are about to set sail on our 6th voyage... and I''m already sad that the book will soon end
Perhaps someone will turn it into a movie? It has everything needed to be a blockbuster.
Anyway, I highly recommend it to all as a ''rattling good yarn''! I''m almost tempted to seek out Tavernier''s own book although I understand it''s a chronological nightmare.
Interesting and absolutely correct..., he never mentioned a potential candidate to the Wittelsbach in his book...
It is true about the Taverier Blue which was recut twice..., but as I understand it..., the Wittelsbach is the first known 'brilliant cut specimen", and if that is the case than Graff did destroy something...
Date: 2/9/2010 3:22:42 PM
Author: DiaGem
Interesting and absolutely correct..., he never mentioned a potential candidate to the Wittelsbach in his book...
**edited by moderator.No links to trade blogs allowed**
ETA= "Tavernier’s relationship to The Wittelsbach is tenuous at best. The French gem merchant, the man who brought the great blue diamond that subsequently became the Hope to France and sold it to Louis XIV, wrote a 17th Century bestseller called The Six Voyages of jean Baptiste Tavernier that I have just released in novel form called; The French Blue, never mentions the stone. To be fair he never mentions the Great Blue either but he does include an invoice which pictures the blue in his book. The first mention I have seen of Tavernier’s possible relationship to The Wittelsbach appeared in a recent New York Times article. The Times writer, Guy Trebay, admits that the relationship is little more than a possibility."
The only issue I dont agree with you is on your writting here:
''Though some experts have said that re-cutting the diamond was a travesty that would destroy its historical provenance, it is hardly without precedent. The gem’s big brother, the 45.52 carat Hope Diamond, originally 116 metric carats when Jean Baptiste Tavernier brought it from India, has been entirely refashioned not once but twice. The first recut, the gem that came to be known as The French Blue was ordered by Louis XIV and supervised by his court jeweler Jean Pitau. This reduced the stone into a shield shaped gem of 68 metric carats. The second recut occurred sometime after The French Blue, then set in the Medal of The Golden Fleece, was stolen from a French warehouse in 1792.''
It is true about the Taverier Blue which was recut twice..., but as I understand it..., the Wittelsbach is the first known ''brilliant cut specimen'', and if that is the case than Graff did destroy something...
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