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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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