From Jeff Edmunds <jhe2@psulias.psu.edu>:

As a follow-up to Adeline Grand-Clément's detailed note, those interested in color might consult the fascinating Bleu: histoire d'une couleur by Michel Pastoureau (an English translation of which was published in 2001 by Princeton University Press as Blue: The History of a Color). The title notwithstanding, the book includes much about colors in general. An audio interview with the author is currently available at Radio France Internationale:

http://www.rfi.fr/fichiers/Magazines/emissions/arts_culture/livre_or_tv.asp