THE SECRET LIVES OF COLOR
by Kassia St. Clair
I am going to do my best to describe this book in a way that will make every one of you want to grab a copy because it is one of the most interesting pieces of nonfiction I have read in a very long time. But every time I try to describe this book, I find it extremely hard to do it justice.
Kassia St. Clair is a historian and writer who has focused much of her career on clothing, particularly pre-19th century. That research led her to get interested in colors and the words we use to describe them, particularly in the ways they have changed over time. She started writing a column for UK magazine, Elle Decoration and those articles as well as others became The Secret Lives of Color.
St. Clair organizes the book by color family from white through to black. Within each color there are five to ten short articles about individual shades. For example, in the pink section there is Baker-Miller pink, Mountbatten pink, Fuchsia, Puce, Shocking pink, Fluorescent pink and Amaranth. For some colors, she discusses how the color was first discovered as a pigment, then became popular in the art world. Some sections are more social in orientation, like when she explores the problematic use of the word “nude” in a world where we are finally acknowledging that there is no such thing as a “neutral” skin tone. Another memorable anecdote is about a shade of green that was so popular in London despite its containing high levels of lead, that virtually every home was contaminated through its wallpaper, fabrics and even some dyed candies!
Not only did I find each little story fascinating, but the book itself is like a small work of art with the edges of each page streaked with the color being described. Even if you don't think you would sit down and read this book cover to cover, I encourage you to pick it up and flip to a random color for a delightful boost in the way you perceive the world around you. (Lily)
