Overview

The rose is the world's favourite flower - and always has been. It is the greatest floral symbol of love and romance the world over, and touches people's hearts at many points in their lives as the flower most often chosen to celebrate significant milestones - weddings, anniversaries, births and deaths. This book traces the journey of the rose across the centuries from battles to bouquets, charting its botanical, religious, literary and artistic history.  From Cleopatra's rose-petal-filled bed to Nijinsky's Spectre de la Rose, from the highly prized attar of rose oil so beloved by the ancient Persians to top-brand perfume labels today, and from Shakespearean myths about the Wars of the Roses to the significance of Queen Elizabeth I's embroidered dresses, Rose encapsulates the story of what makes this botanical family so loved. Using historical, literary and botanical sources from the world's major rose-growing nations, with vibrant illustrations from across the centuries and tales of medieval best-sellers, nurserymen's rivalries and changing tastes in the flower bed, Rose will be a delight to read for both the gardener and non-gardener alike.

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9781789140132

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Reviews

The rose has a fascinating history: archaeologists have found rose fossils which are thirty-five million years old. In this charming book, social historian Horwood traces the flower's religious, literary, and artistic roots, right up to its present-day uses. --Mail on Sunday You will pick up this book wondering what else there could possibly be to know about roses only to be captivated by a tapestry of deftly woven stories of the plants' botanic, literary, cultural, and artistic influence that I, at least, discovered for the first time. . . . The book manages, in a succinct and engaging manner, to illuminate the breadth of the plant's influence. For gardeners who love roses this is a fascinating and enlightening book. --Gardens Illustrated Rose is a well-researched and riveting history of the world's most popular flower. From the fossil record to the rose garden at the White House, this book takes the reader on an epic history of the rose in civilization from ancient times through the patent rules in contemporary times. Historical accounts are spellbinding and include the harrowing tale of the escape from Europe in the midst of a military invasion during World War II of a world-renowned hybrid tea rose, 'Peace.' The book properly attributes the important contribution of Josephine Bonaparte, whose appetite for roses and access to her husband's wealth and privilege prompted her to construct the world's greatest rose garden; her influence is still found in today's gardens. Medicinal uses, cultural importance, and the role of roses in medieval paintings are academically addressed but never difficult to comprehend. This is a small book that packs a huge punch regarding roses in human history. Recommended. --Choice It is no surprise that the rose is the world's favorite flower, and in her new book, simply called Rose, Horwood dances us through every aspect of its botanical, cultural, and literary significance. . . . It offers many interesting nuggets, too--not least that we should all add the European Rose Garden in Sangerhausen, Germany, to our bucket list, as it has 8,600 varieties. There's an enticing recipe for rose vodka, too. --Country Living

The rose has a fascinating history: archaeologists have found rose fossils which are thirty-five million years old. In this charming book, social historian Horwood traces the flower's religious, literary, and artistic roots, right up to its present-day uses. --Mail on Sunday It is no surprise that the rose is the world's favorite flower, and in her new book, simply called Rose, Horwood dances us through every aspect of its botanical, cultural, and literary significance. . . . It offers many interesting nuggets, too--not least that we should all add the European Rose Garden in Sangerhausen, Germany, to our bucket list, as it has 8,600 varieties. There's an enticing recipe for rose vodka, too. --Country Living

Author Information

Catherine Horwood is a social historian specializing in horticultural history. She has published widely in the gardening press and her previous books include Gardening Women: Their Stories from 1600 to the Present (2010) and Potted History: The Story of Plants in the Home (2007).

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