The Secret Lives of Colour: RADIO 4's BOOK OF THE WEEK

by Kassia St Clair

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'A mind-expanding tour of the world without leaving your paintbox. Every colour has a story, and here are some of the most alluring, alarming, and thought-provoking. Very hard painting the hallway magnolia after this inspiring primer.'
Simon Garfield


The Secret Lives of Colour tells the unusual stories of the 75 most fascinating shades, dyes and hues. From blonde to ginger, the brown that changed the way battles were fought to the white that protected against the plague, Picasso's blue period to the charcoal on the cave walls at Lascaux, acid yellow to kelly green, and from scarlet women to imperial purple, these surprising stories run like a bright thread throughout history. In this book Kassia St Clair has turned her lifelong obsession with colours and where they come from (whether Van Gogh's chrome yellow sunflowers or punk's fluorescent pink) into a unique study of human civilisation. Across fashion and politics, art and war, The Secret Lives of Colour tell the vivid story of our culture.

  • ISBN10 1473630819
  • ISBN13 9781473630819
  • Publish Date 20 October 2016
  • Publish Status Active
  • Publish Country GB
  • Publisher John Murray Press
  • Imprint John Murray Publishers Ltd
  • Edition Illustrated edition
  • Format Hardcover
  • Pages 320
  • Language English