by Mary Wilson

Reading for me is an escape. If a fact is tucked into a historical novel, or ideas expanded in the realm of science fiction, I am accepting. 

This is a collection of brief essays on colours from a woman trying to decipher historical references to colour palettes in reference to fabric and styles. The exploration of words, terms, and descriptions is fascinating. The essays are short. The colour swatches remind me how much I misinterpret today’s estimation of hues — and I was interested. 

Sharing the colour explorations is packed into small doses, which encourages more reading. 

There are times I wait in the car, while someone else does a few errands. There is always a book in the door pocket, usually non-fiction, in the hopes that while waiting I can learn something. This series of small essays on colour was an easy read, and it did not take me long to enjoy.

I used to cringe on hearing a reviewer say, “Uses lush language”. The vivid use of a wide variety of descriptions was engaging and reminded me how much I like a broad vocabulary.

Colour, words, colour swatches, and history: a happy combination.

The Secret Lives of Colour
Kassia St. Clair
ISBN 978 1 473 63083 
John Murray (Publishers)
Copyright 2016