On Spaces and Colors

Master of the essay form and master of the sentence, Priscilla Long combines memoir and science to explore the spaces we live in, the spaces we go to in our imagination, and the colors that surround us.

In On Spaces and Colors, Priscilla Long reflects on the spaces we inhabit and the colors that surround us. The essays occur in threes: space (such as a garden, an alley, a living room); color (does pink really stink?); and gallery (a type of space we enter via the imagination—a painting, a book, a map, the past—whether accessed through personal memory or written history). The essays embrace both memoir and science and explore aspects of environment, architecture, and interior design. At the core of Long’s approach is the notion that the way we arrange our spaces strongly affects our well-being—a particular space can contribute to healing or to harm. No matter where you live or what your lifestyle, these essays will lead you into your own rich thoughts and reflections . . . and you may find yourself rearranging the furniture in your living room.