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.

Set to be the most controversial, hotly debated and provocative political book of 2010.

A gripping short story from the New York Times bestselling author of Pieces of Her. A beautiful young girl was walking down the street―when suddenly… Julia Carroll knows that too many stories start that way. Beautiful, intelligent, a nineteen-year-old college freshman, she should be carefree. But instead she is frightened. Because girls are disappearing. A fellow student, Beatrice Oliver, is missing. A homeless woman called Mona-No-Name is missing. Both taken off the street. Both gone without a trace. Julia is determined to find out the reasons behind their disappearances. And she doesn't want to be next…

Boy meets... another boy. The first boy is straight. The second is a stunning blond(e) wearing red lipstick. Touching on issues such as homophobia, gender, human relationships and insecurity, 'blonde BOY, red LIPSTICK' tells the story of a brief affair between two young people living in big cities more than 100 miles apart. But can their meetings, filled with love, music and laughter - not to mention dancing and shoplifting - overcome the inevitable barriers of naivety, doubt... and distance. "A powerful love story. The portrayal of gender and gender issues is hugely important". "Great to find an LGBTQ book written from a straight guy's point of view".

'Fascinating ...Pitman skillfully navigates the complicated history of our addiction to fair hair, skipping through the centuries with an elegant touch' Independent 'Riveting ... provocative ... ON BLONDES is ultimately a study of power-and powerlessness-between the sexes ... travelling undercover, this brunette produced a book which, like its subject, is wonderfully enlightening' Telegraph In art and literature, in history and popular culture, blonde has never been a mere colour. For 2,500 years, it has been a blazing signal and around this obsession entire industries have developed, influential trends set. From Greek prostitutes mimicking the golden-haired Aphrodite, to the Californian beach babe; from pigeon-dung and saffron dyes to L'Oreal - because you're worth it - we see the lengths to which women will go to become blonde. The power and duality of the blonde as either erotic symbol or saintly virgin waxes and wanes but never disappears. Weaving a story rich in anecdote, history and high intrigue, Joanna Pitman effortlessly combines the wealth of her knowledge with a sharp and clear-sighted view of the power of the blonde throughout the ages.

In an alternate world in which Africans enslaved Europeans, Doris, an Englishwoman, is captured and taken to the New World, where the hardships she endures as a slave are offset by dreams of escape and home.