A Perfect Red recounts the colorful history of cochineal, a legendary
red dye that was once one of the world's most precious commodities.
Treasured by the ancient Mexicans, cochineal was sold in the great Aztec
marketplaces, where it attracted the attention of the Spanish
conquistadors in 1519. Shipped to Europe, the dye created a sensation,
producing the brightest, strongest red the world had ever seen. Soon
Spain's cochineal monopoly was worth a fortune. Desperate to find their
own sources of the elusive dye, the English, French, Dutch, and other
Europeans tried to crack the enigma of cochineal. Did it come from a
worm, a berry, a seed? Could it be stolen from Mexico and transplanted
to their own colonies? Pirates, explorers, alchemists, scientists, and
spies--all joined the chase for cochineal, a chase that lasted more than
three centuries. A Perfect Red tells their stories--true-life tales of
mystery, empire, and adventure, in pursuit of the most desirable color
on earth.
The accompanying reference guide is included as a PDF on this disc.
