Synopses & Reviews
First discovered in 1930, the diamonds of Sierra Leone have funded one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. These "blood diamonds" are smuggled out of West Africa and sold to legitimate diamond merchants in London, Antwerp, and New York, often with the complicity of the international diamond industry. Eventually, these very diamonds find their way into the rings and necklaces of brides and spouses the world over.
Blood Diamonds is the gripping tale of how the diamond smuggling works, how the rebel war has effectively destroyed Sierra Leone and its people, and how the policies of the diamond industry -- institutionalized in the 1880s by the De Beers cartel -- have allowed it to happen. Award-winning journalist Greg Campbell traces the deadly trail of these diamonds, many of which are brought to the world market by fanatical enemies. These repercussions of diamond smuggling are felt far beyond the borders of the poor and war-ridden country of Sierra Leone, and the consequences of overlooking this African tragedy are both shockingly deadly and unquestionably global.
Review
"Campbell notes that this same illegal diamond trading that has wrecked Sierra Leone may provide the basis for hope as the West is compelled to address the tragic circumstances of this war-torn nation." Booklist
Review
"Campbell does an excellent job telling the story of 'blood diamonds.' But he leaves unanswered a number of questions that the nation and the world will be grappling with for years to come." Rocky Mountain News
Review
"A vivid, hair-raising tale of brutal proportions that outdistances any fictional tale of derring-do." Washington Times
Synopsis
A revised edition of the definitive portrait of the global network of blood diamonds. It will forever change the way you think about a jewel sparkling on the ring of a young bride.” (-Boulder Daily Camera)
About the Author
Greg Campbell is an award-winning freelance journalist and the editor of the Fort Collins Weekly. His work has appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the fifth edition of Lonely Planet's West Africa guidebook. He lives in Longmont, Colorado.