This is the story of William Perkin, who accidentally invented the color purple and changed the world around him forever. Until 1856, dyes were exclusively natural - they were obtained from insects, shellfish, roots and leaves, and artificial coloring was laborious and expensive. But in 1856 everything changed. An English chemist, while working on a cure for malaria in his home laboratory, accidentally discovered a way to mass produce dyes in factories. This experiment - or even a mistake - revolutionized fashion, chemistry and industry. This book is an amazing story about how sometimes even the smallest thing can make a difference and have such a lasting and important impact.