Rose

The rose is the world's favorite flower and always has been. It is the greatest floral symbol of love and romance globally and touches people's hearts at many points in their lives. It is the flower most often chosen to celebrate significant milestones, such as weddings or anniversaries, and to mark 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. "Rose" tells the story of what makes this botanical family so loved: from Cleopatra's rose-petal-filled bed to Nijinsky's "Spectre de la rose" ballet, from the highly prized attar of rose oil 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. Using historical, literary, and botanical sources from the world's major rose-growing nations, with vibrant illustrations from across the centuries, "Rose" will be a delight to read for both the gardener and non-gardener alike.