The Secret Lives of Colour: AMAZING NEW EDITION + 25 NEW COLOURS

by Kassia St. Clair

'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

THE MODERN CLASSIC, NOW BOLDER, BRIGHTER AND WITH 25 NEW COLOURS.

The history of colour tells the vivid story of civilisation. From scarlet women to imperial purple, leaf green to the white paint that protected against the atom bomb, Picasso's blue period to the pink Barbie claimed for feminism, The Secret Lives of Colour offers a bright thread throughout human history.

Kassia St Clair's lifelong fascination with colours and where they come from (whether Van Goph's chrome yellow sunflowers or Dorothy's ruby slippers) takes us on an unforgettable journey through our past, present and future.

Genres: Nonfiction

448 pages, Hardcover

Published October 9, 2025

About the author

Kassia St Clair received a first in History from Bristol University and went on to study English women's dress and the masquerade during the eighteenth century at Oxford, where she received a distinction.
She is a journalist and author who has written about design and culture for publications including the Economist, Elle, and the Times Literary Supplement.
She lives in London.

Reviews

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book, it is the perfect read for when I need a palate cleanser after having been fully immersed in a book's world and before starting a new book journey. It is amazing how much you can learn from this book, not only about colours but history in general. Learning through book like this one is one of my favourite ways to discover new things I otherwise would not have known about!
Definitely recommend, this is a book you can pick up and and come back to at any time (although you probably won't want to put it down)!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a raffle! Appropriately this was at a lecture on Colour by Susan Kay-Williams. There was a lot of envy. It is a truly encyclopaedic volume, both comprehensive and detailed. Almost anything you might want to know about particular colours - origins, processes, uses, dangers, possibilities, is here in clear prose. It is also well indexed, making it an invaluable reference. My copy is headed for the Embroiderers’ Guild library.

[Clayton Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compendium that was personally interesting and likely useful for my school.

[Sembray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at colour in its many forms. Each bite-size chapter covers a different shade, with anecdotes drawn from art, history, science, sociology and design. Rather than a simple potted history of each colour and its usage, this work offers a more idiosyncratic and personal journey through the varied worlds of colour, crammed with intriguing trivia and opportunities for further reading. The beautiful coloured edges are worth the price of admission alone. On the whole a fantastic, vibrant and immersive book perfect for dipping into and learning something new about verdigris or ultramarine (for example).