Edward Rutherford. New York (№ 409369)

"Beaver," van Dijk said to the children, "is a very useful creature. Beaver fat helps with rheumatism, toothache and gastric colic. The testicles of the beaver, if crushed and dissolved in water, are able to cure the feeble-minded. The fur is thick and warm. But the main temptation was not fur, but its soft leather base. Why? Felt was made of it. Hats. Everyone wanted a felt hat, but only the rich could afford it. It was a cry of fashion. It happened that hatters went crazy, poisoned by mercury, which was used to separate fur from skin. And van Dyck did not rule out a share of madness in the fact that for the sake of fashionable hats an entire colony was founded, and even an empire, where people risked their lives and killed each other. But that's how the world was set up. If the northeast coast of America was colonized for the sake of Atlantic fishing, then the famous bay of New Amsterdam and the large North River - for the sake of felt hats.