On Blondes

In art and literature, in history and popular culture, blonde has never been a mere colour.

For 2500 years, it has been a blazing signal of code, signifying beauty, power and status.

To feed this obsession entire industries have developed, and 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 your 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.

By looking at the world through the prism of what it is to be blonde, or make oneself blonde, we are drawn into an intriguing portrait of the world.

Why is it that blondes rose to prominence in Hollywood and Nazi Germany at the same time?

Why do young Japanese women today want to be blondes?

Weaving a story rich in anecdote, history and intrigue, Joanna Pitman gives us a view of the power of the blonde throughout the ages.