Kassia St. Clair Secret Lives of Colour & Golden Thread 2 Books Collection Set - Non Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set
The Secret Lives of Colour
The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
Publisher: John Murray

Overview
Discover the hidden stories behind the materials that built civilization with this two-book nonfiction set from cultural historian Kassia St. Clair. The Secret Lives of Colour traces the surprising, sometimes scandalous histories of the pigments and dyes that have shaped art, fashion, and power for centuries, while The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History follows the threads and looms that quietly drove trade, war, and social change worldwide. Together, these richly researched, readable books turn everyday materials into windows onto history, making them a rewarding set for curious readers, design lovers, and history enthusiasts alike.

About the Books
This collection brings together two celebrated works of narrative nonfiction from Kassia St. Clair, each turning an everyday material into a lens for understanding civilization. The Secret Lives of Colour is a Sunday Times bestseller that moves chapter by chapter through the color spectrum, unearthing the strange, violent, and glamorous stories behind dozens of specific shades, from the toxic greens once used in Victorian wallpaper to the deep purples reserved for emperors. St. Clair blends art history, chemistry, and social commentary to show how the pursuit of color has driven trade routes, sparked wars, and defined class and status across centuries. Its companion volume, The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History, applies the same detail-rich approach to textiles, tracing cloth from ancient flax fibers to modern synthetic fabrics. St. Clair reveals how spinning, weaving, and dyeing technologies quietly reshaped economies and global trade, and how fabric has clothed armies, funded empires, and outfitted explorers on history's most dangerous journeys. Both books share St. Clair's signature style: meticulously researched yet conversational, packed with vivid anecdotes rather than dry academic prose. Read together, they build a fuller picture of how color and cloth have quietly steered the course of human events, and make a rewarding set for readers who loved microhistories on subjects like salt or the color mauve.

Key Benefits

• Two acclaimed nonfiction titles from bestselling author Kassia St. Clair
• Covers color and textiles, two fascinating angles on material history
• Anecdote-driven writing that makes complex history accessible
• Great gift for history lovers and curious nonfiction readers
• Compact paperback format, ideal for travel or bedside reading
• A thoughtful pairing for book clubs or home libraries

Book-by-Book Guide
The Secret Lives of Colour — A Sunday Times bestseller tracing the scandalous history behind dozens of specific pigments and dyes.
The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History — Follows cloth and textile technology from ancient looms to the modern age, and its influence on trade and society.

About the Author
Kassia St. Clair is a British cultural historian, journalist, and author specializing in the history of design, textiles, and material culture. She writes regularly for major UK publications and has built a reputation for turning overlooked subjects into vivid, accessible storytelling. Her debut book, The Secret Lives of Colour, became a Sunday Times bestseller and introduced readers worldwide to her blend of rigorous research and narrative flair. She followed it with The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History, cementing her place as one of the most engaging popular historians writing about everyday materials.

Why You'll Love This Set
This set rewards curiosity with two wildly readable histories that make color and cloth feel newly fascinating. Perfect as a birthday or holiday gift for history buffs and design students, these paperbacks are equally at home in a cozy reading nook or tucked into a stocking for readers who love learning something new.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.