The Lost Jewels by Kirsty Manning

 Based on “the true story of the Cheapside Hoard, dug up in a Cheapside cellar in 1912, (…) it is one of the most famous caches of jewels in the world, it is also the most mysterious. How could someone neglect to retrieve five hundred precious pieces of jewelry and gemstones?” This story is an imagined tale woven between the facts.

Present day Boston. Kate Kirby, American jewelry historian, writing for an American magazine, receives a call about the Cheapside jewels. She flies to London, where at the London Museum, as the curator of the museum presents the jewels, a button catches her eye. She has seen similar button in her great-grandmother’s sketches. There is also a diamond ring. Now, she is off to India in hopes of tracing the history of the Golconda diamond set in the ring.

London, 1912. Impoverished Irish immigrant Essie Murphy visits her brother at construction work, while a worker strikes through the floor finding a stash of treasure. Her brother sneaks in a small gold button.

India, 1630. A poor mine workman with a sick brother strikes a rough clear. He smuggles it to the market.

London, 1665. A goldsmith tinkers with a gold ring at his anvil. This will be his masterpiece and his only daughter’s wedding ring.

A few threads bonded by a rough clear set in a ring are woven into a beautifully touching story. It brings a vivid portrayal of the less fortunate people. You can really sense their daily hunger and daily fight for survival. I enjoyed the history of tracing jewelry linage. And was moved by the warmest possible kindness of family from whom struggling Murphy family rents a flat.

The layers of this story are like petals of the most beautiful flower. As you peel the petals you get to the bud, the core of the story, which is the diamond ring connecting all threads. And above all, the caring and kindness shine through it all, far more important than any gemstone. The unconditional bighearted love between two sisters is strikingly developed.

With impeccable prose, the author takes a reader into forgotten pocket of history with interesting aspect of tracing jewelry lineage, remarkable characters and fascinating story.

P.S. Also by this author, highly recommend The Song of the Jade Lily.

Release date: 4 August 2020

Source: William Morrow Publisher