France in the period from 1815 to 1855 could be seen as the half-century of plaster. Cheap and easy to use, plaster was everywhere, from Napoleon’s death mask to household ornaments, from walls and ceilings to elaborate mouldings. Plaster was king - but a fragile king that easily crumbled and fell apart. Written with his characteristic brilliance and eye for unconventional topics, Alain Corbin’s highly original exploration of the role of plaster in history will be of interest to a wide readership.