All The Colour In The World by C. S. Richardson is a stunningly beautiful, yet short story written in snippets of gorgeous prose and is packed to the brim with a captivating narrative and illuminating references to historical works by the masters of painting and sculpture. I plan to read it again, next time stopping to look up the paintings and artists that are referenced as a subtext to the plotline. 

With Henry’s personal colour palette as the backdrop, we watch the progression of his life, gently guided by his adored grandmother, from young boy through teen years, married life, war vet and career as an art history professor. The hues define the scenes of his life with amazingly simplistic depth. We feel the searing lightness of his joy and the starkness of his grief through the lens of a colour wheel that wordlessly creates the complexion of the emotional journey of Henry’s life. As an aspiring artist himself, Henry uses this medium to guide his students through the analysis of  great works of art and the geniuses who created them.

C. S. Richardson is a master writer who can unveil, with surprisingly emotional depth, the course of a man’s life in a mere 195 pages. Brilliant!

Image source: Chatelaine.com