The Secret Lives of Colour

By: Kassia St Clair

Narrated by: Kassia St Clair

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2016 Kassia St Clair (P)2016 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

Critic reviews

"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)

A fine treatease on social history, if a bit detached.

This is a well researched history of not so much of colours rather than paints.

When seeing the title I did expect that there will at least some reveal of research on how brain works to make sense of colours.

The narrator, who is the writer herself, is outstanding. You can listen to her Londoner’s accent for hours, even if she recited terms and conditions of an insurance contract.