A dazzling exploration of the intersections of beauty and power around the globe, told through the lens of an iconic cosmetic
'Fascinating' - Nigella Lawson
'Awe-inspiring' - Funmi Fetto
'A treat to read' - Kassia St Clair
A Sunday Times Style Barometer and New York Times Book Review Editors' - Choice Pick
From the distant past to the present day, humans have been drawn to lining their eyes. The aesthetic trademark of figures ranging from Nefertiti to Amy Winehouse, eyeliner is one of our most enduring cosmetic tools; ancient royals and Gen Z beauty influencers alike would attest to its uniquely transformative power. It is undeniably fun - yet it is also far from frivolous. Seen through Zahra Hankir's (kohl-lined) eyes, this ubiquitous but seldom-examined product becomes a portal to history, proof both of the stunning variety among cultures across time and space and of our shared humanity. Through intimate reporting and conversations - with nomads in Chad, geishas in Japan, dancers
