The Thracian settlers in the Balkans did not die without trace. In a few centuries BC, before they were obliterated by the spread of the Greek empire, they left images of their daily lives and their gods, wrought in precious metals. Written to accompany a travelling exhibition (in the US), Ancient Gold is a comprehensive catalogue of unearthed treasures, jewellery and everyday objects. The craftwork is accomplished, the imagery rich, but it is the beauty and the quality of the gold which sings out across time. Thrace, the birthplace of Orpheus, was evidently a cultured civilisation and has left a rich and intriguing legacy. (Kirkus UK)