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A Story of Diamonds, Family, and a Way of Life
Scribner
July 2011
On Sale: July 19, 2011
368 pages ISBN: 1416545123 EAN: 9781416545125 Hardcover
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Non-Fiction
In the middle of New York City lies a neighborhood where all
secrets are valuable, all assets are liquid, and all deals
are sealed with a blessing rather than a contract. Welcome
to the diamond district. Ninety percent of all diamonds that
enter America pass through these few blocks, but the inner
workings of this mysterious world are known only to the
people who inhabit it. In Precious Objects, twenty-six-year-old journalist Alicia
Oltuski, the daughter and granddaughter of diamond dealers,
seamlessly blends family narrative with literary reportage
to reveal the fascinating secrets of the diamond industry
and its madcap characters: an Elvis-impersonating dealer, a
duo of diamond-detective brothers, and her own eccentric father. With insight and drama, Oltuski limns her family’s
diamond-paved move from communist Siberia to a displaced
persons camp in post–World War II Germany to New York’s
diamond district, exploring the connections among Jews and
the industry, the gem and its lore, and the exotic citizens
of this secluded world. Entertaining and illuminating, Precious Objects offers an
insider’s look at the history, business, and society behind
one of the world’s most coveted natural resources, providing
an unforgettable backstage pass to an extraordinary and
timeless show.
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