Flight of the diamond smugglers: a tale of pigeons, obsession, and greed along coastal South Africa

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Author:
Frank, Matthew Gavin
Language:
English
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Cary Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
364.133 FRANK
East Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
364.133 FRANK
Eva H. Perry Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
364.133 FRANK

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ISBN:
9781631496028

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Grouped Work ID0a83e974-6f9e-6271-4c73-c5a0705871e3
Grouping Titleflight of the diamond smugglers a tale of pigeons obsession and greed along coastal south africa
Grouping Authormatthew gavin frank
Grouping Categorybook
Grouping LanguageEnglish (eng)
Last Grouping Update2025-05-14 05:08:34AM
Last Indexed2025-05-14 05:18:00AM

Solr Fields

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Frank, Matthew Gavin
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Frank, Matthew Gavin
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Eva H. Perry Regional
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Middle Creek Community
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East Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
Eva H. Perry Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
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Middlecreek Community - Adult Non-Fiction
North Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
Northeast Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
Oberlin Regional - Adult Non-Fiction
Remote Storage - Adult Non-Fiction
display_description
"Blending elements of reportage, memoir, and incantation, Flight of the Diamond Smugglers is a stunning investigation into the role of carrier pigeons in South African diamond smuggling. Nearly every town along South Africa's infamous diamond coast has been deemed "overmined." Before the area fully becomes a series of abandoned outposts, journalist Matthew Gavin Frank drives from Oranjemund, Namibia to the De Beers mining towns of Alexander Bay, Porth Nolloth, and Kleinzee. What begins as an attempt to peer behind the curtain cloaking the global diamond trade soon becomes a tale of obsession, as Frank learns about the various and ingenious methods used in illicit diamond smuggling-particularly, the sneaking of carrier pigeons onto mine property, affixing diamonds to them, and sending them into the air to fly home. So rampant is this method that a law in 1998 made it illegal to not shoot a pigeon on sight. Frank juxtaposes the endangered lives of local diamond diggers (whose average lifespan is 37 years) who raise pigeons in secret with the corporate boardrooms of De Beers, while also synthesizing myths across histories and cultures in which diamonds and gems intersect. As he speaks with miners, former heads of security, environmental managers, and more, he gets ever-closer to the elusive Mr. Lester-a tall-tale villain meant to frighten would-be smugglers, and the only person who can answer Frank's questions, if he is indeed real. Written in atmospheric and lyrical prose, Flight of the Diamond Smugglers becomes an urgent portrait of labor, greed, and our penchant for ownership"--
format_catalog
Book
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Books
id
0a83e974-6f9e-6271-4c73-c5a0705871e3
isbn
9781631496028
last_indexed
2025-05-14T09:18:00.845Z
lexile_score
-1
literary_form
Non Fiction
literary_form_full
Non Fiction
local_callnumber_catalog
364.133 FRANK
owning_library_catalog
Wake County Public Libraries
owning_location_catalog
Cary Regional
East Regional
Eva H. Perry Regional
Leesville Community
Middle Creek Community
North Regional
Northeast Regional
Oberlin Regional
primary_isbn
9781631496028
publishDate
2021
publisher
Liveright Publishing Corporation
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Diamond mines and mining -- South Africa
Diamond smuggling -- South Africa
Homing pigeons -- South Africa
title_display
Flight of the diamond smugglers : a tale of pigeons, obsession, and greed along coastal South Africa
title_full
Flight of the diamond smugglers : a tale of pigeons, obsession, and greed along coastal South Africa / Matthew Gavin Frank
title_short
Flight of the diamond smugglers
title_sub
a tale of pigeons, obsession, and greed along coastal South Africa
topic_facet
Diamond mines and mining
Diamond smuggling
Homing pigeons

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Bib IdFormatFormat CategoryEditionLanguagePublisherPublication DatePhysical DescriptionAbridged
ils:749811BookBooksFirst editionEnglishLiveright Publishing Corporation[2021]208 pages : map ; 22 cm

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