What remains of the colours of our childhood What are our memories of a blue rabbit a red dress a yellow bike and were they really those colours What colours do we associate with our student years our first loves our adult lives How does colour leave its mark on memory In an attempt to answer these and other questions Michel Pastoureau presents us with a journal about colours that covers half a century. Drawing on personal recollections he retraces the recent history of colours through an exploration of fashion and clothing everyday objects and practices emblems and flags sport literature museums and art. This text playful poetic nostalgic records the life of both the author and his contemporaries.