The book ostensibly tells the story of William Perkin, who discovered the first artificial dyestuffs and made a fortune from dyes. Along the way, the book is also a history of the way chemical research was carried out in Victorian times, and how the dyestuff industry and pharmaceutical industries got going. The book also includes odd asides at the ends of some chapters, with information or stories about modern dyes and their uses. Although these break into the narrative and seem out of place at times, they are still interesting and do not really detract from the book as a whole. A fascinating read - especially if you are coming new to this subject area.