St.Clair Kassia. The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History

John Murray, 2018. — 352 p. — ISBN 9781473659032, 1473659035.A briskly told, 30,000-year history of textiles that “will make you rethink your relationship with fabric” (Elle Decoration).
From colorful threads found on the floor of an ancient Georgian cave to the Indian calicoes that fueled the Industrial Revolution, The Golden Thread illuminates the myriad and fascinating histories behind the cloths that came to define human civilization―the fabric, for example, that allowed mankind to shatter athletic records, and the textile technology that granted us the power to survive in space. Exploring the enduring association of textiles with «women’s work», Kassia St. Clair «spins a rich social history... that also reflects the darker side of technology» (Rachel Newcomb, Washington Post).
All textiles begin with a twist. From colourful 30,000-year old threads found on the floor of a Georgian cave to what the linen wrappings of Tutankhamun's mummy actually meant; from the Silk Roads to the woollen sails that helped the Vikings reach America 700 years before Columbus; from the lace ruffs that infuriated the puritans to the Indian calicoes and chintzes that powered the Industrial Revolution, our continuing reinvention of cloth tells fascinating stories of human ingenuity. When we talk of lives hanging by a thread, being interwoven, or part of the social fabric, we are part of a tradition that stretches back many thousands of years. Fabric has allowed us to achieve extraordinary things and survive in unlikely places, and this book shows you how - and why. With a cast that includes Chinese empresses, Richard the Lionheart and Bing Crosby, Kassia St Clair takes us on the run with escaped slaves, climbing the slopes of Everest and moonwalking with astronauts. Running like a bright line through history, The Golden Thread offers an unforgettable adventure through our past, present and future.Preface.
Introduction.
Fibres in the Cave.
Dead Men’s Shrouds.
Gifts and Horses.
Cities that Silk Built.
Surf Dragons.
A King’s Ransom.
Diamonds and the Ruff.
Solomon’s Coats.
Layering in Extremis.
Workers in the Factory.
Under Pressure.
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.
The Golden Cape.
Golden Threads: A Coda.
Acknowledgements.
Glossary.
Notes.