Anne of Geierstein

Walter Scott called his historical novel “Anna of Geierstein,” but in Russian it is better known as “Charles the Bold.” The novel was conceived as a continuation of the successful “Quentin Durward.” Published in 1829, the book became a bestseller, especially in England. Scott’s story about an opal that brings misfortune to its owner led the opal to be perceived as a dangerous stone, and its sales in Europe dropped by half.