I found this fair-condition softcover at a local Savers thrift shop. I've read other books on the history behind different dyes and color-agents, and this one looks intriguing - it's about the first artificially-produced dye, and the effects it has had on modern life.

I was surprised to find that chemist William Perkin, who discovered the dye after an experiment went wrong and he began to mess about with the unusually-tinted results, was in fact a major celebrity in his own lifetime. So many cases of significant-discovery seem to result in the discoverer dying unknown, with any fame or credit coming long afterwards if at all. In this case, there was considerable recognition, both early in his career and late in his life (with a bit of a sag in the middle).

Perkin also avoided the fate of those who died in poverty while others made millions off of their inventions; he worked at the business side of his new invention quite earnestly, and despite some ups and downs, did fairly well. He continued his lab work too, and his legacy has more to do with the development of techniques for producing artificial dyes in an affordable way than in creating them.

There are interesting notes about the hazards of the work, from lab accidents to the "technicolor river" results of dumping all the lab's waste products into the nearest water source {rueful grin}. And there are business-related issues too, about the difficulties of kickstarting a completely new process in a long-established industry. Notes on the personalities and politics of the day mix with the many different uses to which the new dye was put, from fashion to medicine. (The photographs were appreciated!)

I'm adding this book to the Biographies of Things bookbox, which will be on its way to its next stop soon. Enjoy!

Selected this from the book box. Looks interesting. Thanks for sharing! I love it when I am behind GoryDetails in book boxes because she always have good stuff!!

I am afraid this book is more boring than I expected. As mauve is an artificial color, there's quite a bit about chemistry, coal tar and all that. It's interesting though, to learn how Perkin's discovery had changed the world, beyond making clothings more colorful. It led chemists to consider their work for industrial application rather than pure academic pursuit. It also led to medical advances: vaccines, new treatments. Of course, from today's viewpoint, all that artificial stuff is not a good thing. It poisoned the environment, not to mention the people.

I appreciate the author writing about Perkin so we can be reminded of his contribution to the world. This book is now set aside for the Books about Things bookbox.

After some rest, this book is back into MaryZee's Biographies of Things Bookbox.

Finally ready to start another round of the Biographies of Things book box, which means I have to realize that I never catalogued the ones that were in the box when it returned to me. This one is good for another round.

This book is now part of the Biographies of Things book box and is off to tour the country. Hopefully along the way it finds an interested reader and a new home.

Any future reader or recipient of this book is encouraged to leave a journal entry here on the BookCrossing site to let prior readers know the fate of the book. You can make an anonymous entry without joining the BookCrossing movement, but if you are interested in joining, it is a free and spam-free community where your contact information is not shared with others. Best of all, members receive private messages via e-mail from books like this one when those books are journaled, allowing for long-term relationships between books and readers.

Found in the current Biographies of Things bookbox; returning back into the box.

Received in the Biographies of Things Bookbox.

I already have a copy of this book, so I will release this one back into the box.

Released in the Biographies of Things Bookbox.

Please enjoy!

I selected this book from the box. Thank you!