Review
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“Sparkling and informative.”—Meghan Cox Gurdon, Wall Street
Journal (Holiday Gift Book selection)
“A great addition to the collection of anyone who is, to some
degree, passionate about color.”—Angelica Frey, Hyperic
“[A] scholarly yet highly entertaining book.”—Natalie Angier, New
York Times
“An entertaining philosophical tract that searches for the
meaning of color . . . A personal and opinionated book, which
engages the reader and stimulates an internal discussion . . . A
gift book, beautifully produced with fine illustrations . . . A
book to be kept on your night table to be read episodically.”—Ana
Daniel, East Hampton Star
“Masterful . . . Kastan demonstrates the weight of color through
beautiful, persuasive prose while weaving through multifarious
concepts.”—Stephanie Osmanski, Dan’s Papers (Long Island)
“Remarkably beautiful, original, and engaging . . . A stunningly
attractive object, replete with brilliant illustrations that
bring to life the inful, lyrical, and perceptive commentary
. . . An enthralling read.”—Gina Barreca, Psychology Today
“A gorgeously illustrated in-depth exploration of color on all of
its symbolic, visual, literary, political, historic, and
scientific registers . . . conversational, personal, witty in
tone . . . an optimistic and essential reminder of the
ever-shifting meanings and functions of color.”—Stefanie
Sobelle, Los Angeles Review of Books
“In discussions ranging from Homer’s ‘wine-dark sea’ to the exact
red of the Hungarian , the authors make a convincing case
that ‘color inevitably exceeds language.’ In this readable,
carefully written, and handsomely illustrated book, colors are
discussed individually. Highly recommended for all readers.”—R.
M. Davis, Choice
“Dense with references, the chapters move rapidly through
incidents and ideas. . . . Kastan and Farthing are fascinated by
the way we make colour mean things in spite of itself, by the
possibilities it provides in its expressive ambiguities and the
consequences of the material histories that go along with
it.”—Ruth Jones, Literary Review of Canada
"Brilliantly written, exhaustively researched, beautifully
produced, On Color is a tour-de-force, a creative feast for the
eyes, mind, and heart. It not only delights and entertains, it
will illuminate your understanding and appreciation of color. And
that will enliven your life.”—Jeffrey B. Rubin, Ph.D., Psychology
Today
“Brilliant . . . Consumed all at once, Kastan and Farthing’s book
is a revelation . . . On Color s meaning onto the hues we see
every day . . . It’s about seeing the world clearly, while
retaining the ability to enjoy a good illusion.”—Katy
Kelleher, Athenaeum Review
Winner of the Outstanding Academic Title for 2018 award sponsored
by Choice
“Here is a subtle and imaginative in into the slippery
phenomenon we call colour – and how variously we perceive and
emblemise it: a wise and fascinating study.”—Colin Thubron
"Like the best works of cultural criticism, On Color changes how
we see the world. I mean that quite literally. After reading
this brilliant book, the mundane appears sharper, richer, and
more meaningful."—James Shapiro, author of 1599: A Year in the
Life of William Shakespeare
“This lively, erudite, and far-reaching introduction to the
poetics of color combines anecdotal art history with cultural and
literary studies to illustrate a fundamental truth: that color is
relational as well as subjective. This entertaining and humane
book effortlessly deepens our engagement with the visual
world.”—David Salle
“On Color is a deliciously readable, gloriously illumined work of
meditation and exploration, written in high resolution.”—Jay
Parini, author of The Last Station and Empire of Self: A Life of
Gore Vidal
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About the Author
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David Scott Kastan, the George M. Bodman Professor of English at
Yale University, is one of the general editors of the Arden
Shakespeare. Stephen Farthing is an artist, an elected member of
the Royal Academy of Arts in London, and an Emeritus Fellow of
St. Edmund Hall, the University of Oxford.
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