Stones of Contention

“Teachers of African and world history will welcome the lucid style and topical introduction to historical issues. …Unlike the now dime-a-dozen summaries of African history, this book marshals a great deal of evidence, contains much substance, and provides some interesting perspectives. The temptation might be to consume the book at a single sitting. This would be a pity, for the tastiest morsels, in particular primary sources that relate labor experiences on colonial mines, should be savored.” — American Historical Review

“Todd Cleveland captures this long and important history in a lucid narrative that
combines the big story of geopolitics and global economy with individual life stories and
testimonies of representatives of the colonial states and mining companies as well as the
voices of African labourers. The book is an easy read and very suitable for students, who
will profit from the further reading suggestions.”

— International Review of Social History

“As Cleveland’s book makes clear, a combination of high value and low volume makes the stones a destabilizing resource, and the concept of ‘blood diamonds’ has become a familiar trope in African affairs. But this concise history of the African diamond trade, which began with the discovery of a diamond in South Africa in 1867, evinces a more nuanced understanding of its impact on the continent.” — Foreign Affairs

“In Stones of Contention, Cleveland (Augustana College) skillfully mines previous scholarship to provide readers with a short synthesis of the political, economic, and social history of Africa’s important diamond industry…. Summing up: recommended.” — CHOICE

“Cleveland begins by asking a question that was posed to him: ‘Would you ever purchase an African diamond knowing what you know now?’ In this introduction to the industry, he strives to give readers sufficient facts to answer that question themselves by making sense of a global commodity shrouded in secrecy and the illusions of marketing…. Cleveland’s work is necessarily accessible and important, as diamonds will continue to play a prominent role in world events.” — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“Cleveland's vivid and concise prose brings to life the tragedies suffered by miners and how despots accrued their bloody wealth.” — Foreword Reviews

“Todd Cleveland has written a novel approach to African history. Rather than present yet another account whose organizing focus is by country, region, or colonizer(s), he has presented an interesting, thoughtful, and well-written undergraduate textbook whose integrating theme is a key resource—diamonds…. Resource exploitation is a vital aspect of Africa’s past and present, and Cleveland’s study of the history of diamonds provides a neat introduction to the continent’s narrative.” — Canadian Journal of Africa Studies

“Stones of Contention is the best introduction to the history of diamond-mining in Africa — short and easy-to-read.”

“…Cleveland renders a sweeping look at colonists, industry titans, despots, and everyday mires in this look at the local and global context of what have come to be known as blood diamonds.” — Booklist

“A useful, lucid account of this sometimes dark and disturbing trade.”

“Todd Cleveland expertly mines the social, political and economic history of Africa’s diamond industry, explaining the phenomenon of ‘blood diamonds,’ the regulatory efforts of the past decade and a growing sense of optimism that these ‘stones of contention’ may, at long last, contribute to meaningful development.”