Every color has a story, and here are some of the most alluring, alarming, and thought-provoking.' -Simon Garfield, New York Times bestselling author of Just My Type: A Book About Fonts 'A kaleidoscope of charming, discursive essays. 'A mind-expanding tour of the world without leaving your paintbox. 'This passionate and majestic compedium will leave you bathed in the gorgeous optics of light.' - Elle Across fashion and politics, art and war, the secret lives of color tell the vivid story of our culture. Clair has turned her lifelong obsession with colors and where they come from (whether Van Gogh's chrome yellow sunflowers or punk's fluorescent pink) into a unique study of human civilization. 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. Full of anecdotes and fascinating research, this elegant compendium has all the answers.' -NPR, Best Books of 2017 The Secret Lives of Color tells the unusual stories of seventy-five fascinating shades, dyes, and hues. One of USA Today' s ' 100 Books to Read While Stuck at Home During the Coronavirus Crisis ' A dazzling gift for Mother's Day, the unforgettable, unknown history of colors and the vivid stories behind them in a beautiful multi-colored volume.

The secret lives of color book