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A Rose by Any Name: The Little-Known Lore and Deep-Rooted History of Rose Names |  | Authors: Douglas Brenner, Stephen Scanniello
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $6.00
as of 9/9/2010 04:10 CDT details
You Save: $13.95 (70%)
New (29) Used (15) Collectible (1) from $5.99
Seller: Still Life
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 531722
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition
Pages: 352
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 6.6 x 1.2
ISBN: 1565125185
Dewey Decimal Number: 635.933734
EAN: 9781565125186
ASIN: 1565125185
Publication Date: February 3, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Encompassing art, literature, science, technology, history, and everything in between, the stories behind rose varieties include enough curiosities, romance, tragedy, wit, mystery, scandal, and earthy delights to satisfy even those who would never dream of actually tending a plant. in addition to names, readers will learn that the perfume of 'Rosa Gallica' wafted through Pliny's Roman villa and lulled Marie Antoinette on the night before her wedding; that 'Eglantine' is threaded through Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream; that roses in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were mainly raised for medicinal purposes; and that the world of rose-naming rights is one of complicated and fiercely guarded copyrights and patents. With full-color art throughout, this eclectic little volume is a must-have for die-hard rosarians, and for the less rose-obsessed, it's simply a marvelous miscellany starring what is arguably the world's most popular flower.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
gift for gardeners in your life ! April 9, 2010
Reen (NV, USA)
I purchased this for a dear friend who is a weekend gardener. She found it very interesting and found some roses she will plant in her garden this year. It was a book she wouldn't have picked up for herself. That made it fun to give as a gift. :D
 Sweet roses January 17, 2010
Fiona Lowther (Detroit, Michigan USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
So enjoyable that I bought a copy as a Christmas gift for a friend who does rose gardening. Need I say more?
A Rose by Any Name October 17, 2009
OldRoses (NJ)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's no secret that I love roses, especially heirloom roses. I love their gorgeous flowers. I love their heavenly scents. I love their toughness. And I love their names. Residing in my garden are Baronne Prevost, Cecile Brunner, General Jacqueminot, Mme. Pierre Oger, Mme. Plantier, Therese Bugnet and Zephirine Drouhin. Who were these people and why were roses named after them?
Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello set out to solve those mysteries. They initially chose about four dozen roses with interesting histories. But the problem with roses and their stories is that when you start out discussing one tale, it leads to another story about another rose which leads to yet another story about another rose, etc. By the time the authors finished, the four dozen roses had become over 1200.
It's those stories that make this book so fascinating. Rather than a dry list of names each followed by a short explanation of the person/place/thing for which the rose was named, we are treated to tales of danger, intrigue, humor and pathos, all with historical tidbits thrown in to put it into context.
We visit gardens that no longer exist and gardens that are still going strong. We learn about the game "Rose Alphabet" wherein players must come up with rose names for each letter of the alphabet. Also included are several recipes using rose petals or hips along with the story of the discovery of rose oil in India.
Most of all, it's the people and their stories. Gods and goddesses, kings and queens, saints and sinners. Presidents, war heroes, painters, fashion designers, actors and actresses. Humbler folk such as family members of rose breeders.
The authors debunk a few legends. My personal favorite is the quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: "I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall." Not true, unfortunately.
A glossary of rose and gardening terms is included as well as a bibliography, both very helpful. The lack of an index was the one glaring omission in this otherwise wonderful book. There is no way to look up a specific rose.
As for the "people" growing in my gardens? Five of them are covered, but you will have to read the book yourself to find out which ones and the stories behind them.
A SPECIAL BOOK FOR A ROSE LOVER & HISTORIAN. TOTALLY INTERESTING!!! July 4, 2009
J. Maxwell
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
THIS WAS A GIFT FOR MY HUSBAND AND WE BOTH ENDED UP READING IT TO EACH OTHER. THE TIDBITS OF INFORMATION MAKE HISTORY IN A SENSE COME ALIVE. FASCINATING BOOK AND STAYS OUT AS WE PICK IT UP OFTEN. A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR GARDENING BOOKS. SO GLAD I FOUND THIS BOOK.
A lovely book. May 29, 2009
Frances Di Pasqua
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A lot of fun to dip into here and there. Lovely illustrations in each chapter.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
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