Flight of the Diamond Smugglers: A Tale of Pigeons, Obsession and Greed along Coastal South Africa

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Description

'A lyrical portrait of a resilient species caught in the grinding gears of a cruel industry of extraction and exploitation.' - Kirk Wallace Johnson, author of The Feather Thief.

In 2016, Matthew Gavin Frank travelled along South Africa's notorious Diamond Coast to report on the illicit trade that supplies a global market. Immediately, he became intrigued by the ingenious methods used in facilitating this trade - particularly, the illegal act of sneaking carrier pigeons onto mine property, affixing diamonds to their feet, and sending them into the air.

Investigating a long overlooked true-crime story dating back to the founding of the De Beers Corporation, Frank weaves interviews with local diamond divers who raise pigeons in secret with harrowing anecdotes from former heads of security, environmental mangers, and vigilante pigeon hunters, revealing how these feathered bandits became outlaws in every mining town.

Reviews

Ghost towns, corporate cruelty, the centuries-old relationship between humans and a species almost magical in its abilities ... fabulous. * The New York Times *
An eye-opening account and one that's likely to make you reassess the role of diamonds in society today. * Geographical Magazine *
Unforgettable. ... An outstanding adventure in its lyrical, utterly compelling, and heartbreaking investigations of the world of diamond smuggling. -- Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of Oceanic and World of Wonders
A fascinating read...a perfect combination of memoir and investigative reporting...a page-turning tale of suspense.... Frank's reporting on mineworkers, their pigeons, the towns, communities, and the people that have struggled in the wake of mine closures makes for compelling reading. * The South African *
A beautifully written book on diamond smuggling, the universe, life and much of what lies in between. -- Toby Muse, author of Kilo: Life and Death Inside the Secret World of the Cocaine Cartels
A lyrical portrait of a resilient species caught in the grinding gears of a cruel industry of extraction and exploitation. -- Kirk Wallace Johnson, author of The Feather Thief

Author Bio

Matthew Gavin Frank is the author of The Mad Feast and Preparing the Ghost, which was reviewed on the front page of the New York Times Book Review. He teaches creative writing and lives in Marquette, Michigan.