Concentrating on the general shift away from colour in men's clothing that began around 1800, John Harvey traces the transition to black from the 15th century, to 16th century Venice, 17th century Spain, and eventually to the Netherlands. The text seeks to show how black evolved from being smart and elegant fashion to serving as a cultural marker. The volume points to the fact that in current times the colour black retains its associations with strength and cruelty as well as its authority.