Colour cover art

Colour

Travels Through the Paintbox

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About this listen

 'A rare and wonderful book... I could not be more enthusiastic.' Simon Winchester

'A treasure trove of human history and obsession...the breadth of research and insight is dazzling.' Glasgow Herald

'A highly companionable guide, adventurous and romantic' Independent on Sunday

On a journey that takes her from Afghanistan, to the Australian outback, to ancient caves in China, and the saffron harvest in Spain, Victoria Finlay gives an extraordinary and compelling account of the history of colour.

On a journey that takes her from Afghanistan, to the Australian outback, to ancient caves in China, and the saffron harvest in Spain, Victoria Finlay gives an extraordinary and compelling account of the history of colour.

Colour unlocks the history of the colours of the rainbow, and reveals how paints came to be invented, discovered, traded and used. This remarkable and beautifully written book, part travelogue part narrative history, remembers a time when red paint was really the colour of blood, when orange was the poison pigment, blue as expensive as gold, and yellow made from the urine of cows force-fed with mangoes. It looks at how green was carried by yaks along the silk road, and how an entire nation was founded on the colour purple.

Exciting, richly informative, and always surprising, Colour lifts the lid on the historical palette and unearths an astonishing wealth of stories about the quest for colours, and our efforts to understand them.

(P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2002 Victoria Finlay Art Travel Writing & Commentary Inspiring
All stars
Most relevant
brilliant story that's ignites passion in the most mundane daily sights, well worth a listen.

a new way to see the world

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I loved the entertaining side of this book. Yes, you also get lots of facts and information about colour, pigment and dyes but it’s the stories of her travels that made it a great listen.

Very entertaining

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Fascinating and beautifully researched, Victoria has ranged the planet on an amazing quest to illuminate the world of colour
Her adventures are thrilling and her sense of humour and appreciation for the ridiculous are infectious.

Wonderful and beginning

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This is a compelling and instructive book. For instance, who knew that the supreme scientist Isaac Newton decided to give the rainbow two blues because he found six to be an uninspiring number whereas seven was magical?

Fabulous art history, chemistry, political history, biology and physics all in one fascinating package

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I love colours and enjoy listening to the history on how the colours were derived. It gets heavy though. Combined with what I learned from other sources, I feel a bit down after. When I see colours, I feel inexplicable happiness. But now, I don't know if could, or should, still smile as brightly when I see royal blue. There are others but I specifically like this colour. Sigh.

Vivid history behind colours

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