Red: A History of the Redhead (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781579129965)

Red is a brilliantly told, captivating history of red hair throughout the ages. A book that breaks new ground, dispels myths, and reinforces the special nature of being a redhead, with a look at multiple disciplines, including science, religion, politics, feminism and sexuality, literature, and art.

With an obsessive fascination that is as contagious as it is compelling, author Jacky Colliss Harvey (herself a redhead) begins her exploration of red hair in prehistory and traces the redhead gene as it made its way out of Africa with the early human diaspora to its emergence under Northern skies. She goes on to explore red hair in the ancient world; the prejudice manifested against red hair across medieval Europe; red hair during the Renaissance as both an indicator of Jewishness during the Inquisition and the height of fashion in Protestant England, under the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I; the modern age of art and literature, and the first positive symbols of red hair in children's characters; modern medicine and science and the genetic and chemical decoding of red hair; and finally, red hair in contemporary culture, from advertising and exploitation to "gingerism" and the new movement against bullying.

Author: Jacky Colliss Harvey
ISBN-10: 157912996X
ISBN-13: 9781579129965
Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
Language: English
Published: 06/09/2015
Pages: 240
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 8.10h x 6.40w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 05/15/2015 pg. 91
Booklist 06/01/2015 pg. 12