RHS The Rose: The history of the world's favourite flower in 40 roses

Description

The Royal Horticultural Society's The Rose tells the story of the world's favourite flower through 40 of the most popular and interesting species and hybrids. Arranged chronologically, The Rose brings to life the arrival of each flower in European gardens, detailing the history of the layout of rose gardens and the role that roses play in the 'language of flowers'. From the first recorded reference to a rose over 7,000 years ago, these extraordinary flowers have captivated botanists, artists, poets, perfumers and gardeners. A symbol of love and patriotism, a scent and flavour synonymous with the East, and the jewel in the crown of ornamental gardens, roses in all their forms bear a special meaning that spans centuries and crosses oceans. Extraordinary botanical illustrations and extracts from classic texts held in the Royal Horticultural society's world-famous Lindley Library, such as Redoute's Les Roses, Henry Andrew's Roses, Mary Lawrence's Selection of Roses and Victor Paquet's Choix des Plus Belles Roses, complete this authoritative celebration.

Brent Elliott was a staff member of the RHS Lindley Library for forty years, for most of that time as Librarian, and latterly as Historian. He is the author of Victorian Gardens (1986), The Country House Garden (1995), The Royal Horticultural Society (2004), RHS Chelsea Flower Show (2013), and Federico Cesi's Botanical Manuscripts (2015). He has served as Editor of Garden History, and of Occasional Papers from the RHS Lindley Library. He was for 21 years a member of English Heritage's Historic Parks and Gardens Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Victorian Society's Southern Buildings Committee.