A Perfect Red recounts the colorful history of cochineal, a vivid red dye that was once one of the world's most precious commodities. Treasured by the ancient Mexicans, it was sold in the great Aztec marketplaces where it attracted the attention of Spanish conquistadors. Soon cochineal had conquered Europe, where Spain's monopoly over the dye was worth a fortune. Desperate to find their own sources, the English, French, Dutch, and other Europeans tried to crack the enigma of cochineal. Pirates, explorers, alchemists, scientists, and spies all joined in a chase that lasted for more than three centuries. This meticulously researched book is a true tale of mystery, empire, adventure and the most desirable color on earth. Amy Butler Greenfield's grandfather and great-grandfather were dyers, and she has long been fascinated by the history of color. Born in Philadelphia, she grew up in the Adirondacks and graduated summa cum laude from Williams College.

As a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, she studied Imperial Spain and Renaissance Europe with Sir John Elliott. She has worked at several American museums and now lives with her husband near Boston. "Greenfield has given us a superbly researched history of cochineal red, full of angles and tangents, curiosities and arcana." -- Diane Ackerman, Washington Post Book World.