The Secret Lives Of Color

"In this beautifully written and thoughtfully produced book, Kassia St.Clair, who writes a column on color for Elle Decoration, examines the roots of 75 different shades, dyes and hues, from the obscure – like gamboge and celadon – to more familiar shades like saffron, magenta and emerald. These potted histories of pigments double as a history of human civilization: Why did Homer never mention the color blue? Why was purple an imperial color? Why is scarlet both regal and scandalous? And did you know puce came from the French word for flea? Full of anecdotes and fascinating research, this elegant compendium has all the answers."