The Guardian Bookshop makes over 180,000 books available with up to 40% discount, as well as highlighting some of our favourite publications in each genre.
Find out more.
This item is currently re-printing. You may still order this book and we will despatch it as soon as it becomes available.
Bookmark this page:
About this book
Look inside
Trade review
The incredible story of William Perkin, the young scientist who, in a quest to synthesise quinine from coal, discovered the formula for the colour purple. A highly entertaining piece of narrative history, which gives a remarkable insight into the scientific process. "A book about science which also happens to be a miniature work of art." Hugh Massingberd, "Daily Telegraph".
Synopsis
An artificial dye, mauve, was discovered by a 19th-century chemist called William Perkin while searching for a synthetic alternative to natural quinine. This book examines how the different worlds of fashion, industry, business, chemistry and medicine were transformed by a single colour.
