The Language of Flowers: A Fully Illustrated Compendium of Meaning, Literature, and Lore for the Modern Romantic
The Language of Flowers: A Fully Illustrated Compendium of Meaning, Literature, and Lore for the Modern Romantic book cover

The Language of Flowers: A Fully Illustrated Compendium of Meaning, Literature, and Lore for the Modern Romantic

Hardcover – Illustrated, April 7, 2020

Price
$16.99
Format
Hardcover
Pages
256
Publisher
Harper Design
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0062873194
Dimensions
6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
Weight
2.11 pounds

Description

Odessa Begay is the author of the adult coloring books Little Birds, Edgar Allan Poe, Jingle Bells Christmas Carol (all Sterling, 2016), and William Shakespeare (Sterling, May 2017). A graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, she illustrates full time for an array of clients including Papyrus, Design Design, and Robin Sprong Wallpaper. She lives in Kansas City with her husband.

Features & Highlights

  • With gorgeous full-color illustrations, ornate decorative elements, lettering in metallic ink, and engaging text,
  • The Language of Flowers:
  • A Fully Illustrated Compendium of Meaning, Literature, and Lore for the Modern Romantic
  • is a treasure for flower lovers. A sumptuous, contemporary anthology of 50 of the world's most storied and popular flowers, each of its entries offers insight to the meaning associated with the flower, and is a fascinating mix of foklore, classic mythology, literature, botanical information and popular culture.
  • Following an introduction that provides a short history of the language of flowers, a fad which reached its peak during the reign of Queen Victoria, each uniquely illustrated and designed entry is an enjoyable read full of history and little-known facts. Here is the story of Tulipmania; how the pansy got its "face," and why the most particular pollination process of a certain orchid has made the vanilla bean a very dear commodity. You'll also dicover how Christian Dior's passion for lily of the valley inspired his classic perfume Diorissimo and its extraordinary bottle; why Oscar Wilde had a penchant for wearing green carnations in his lapel; and how Greeks and Romans believed snapdragons could ward off witchcraft, so they planted them at entryways to their homes.
  • With more than a dozen two-page paintings evoking the romance of noteworthy Victorian gardens and symbolic bouquets, a cross-referenced index of flowers and meanings, and suggestions for further reading, this book is a must for lovers of floriology and Victoriana.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(130)
★★★★
25%
(54)
★★★
15%
(32)
★★
7%
(15)
-7%
(-15)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

A rare find and a beautiful jewel of a book!

The Language of Flowers is pure delight from the first moment you see the book! The beautifully illustrated hard cover, the delicately rich and yet soft colors of the flowers, the sky blue as you first open the book, all beckon you to join the author on a glorious carpet ride. Laid before you is a landscape of beauty. A dip into a description of a particular blossom, and then you are carried on to your next exploration, the ride lovingly punctuated by poetry insights. Odessa has created a book that will please anyone lucky enough to pick it up and is the perfect gift for anyone who loves beautiful books and beautiful flowers ~
14 people found this helpful
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Really beautiful color illustrations and a very interesting read

I loved the rich, colorful illustrations--just lovely. A great read, too. I buy a lot of books on floriology, and this is by far the best contemporary one out there--it's extremely well researched in terms of popular culture, mythology, plant lore--and it's very entertaining. Highly recommend.
7 people found this helpful
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Factual but not what I hoped for

I was expecting to have a book about why mean what they mean when you make a bouquet for someone. Instead I got some history about flowers with no description of why the flowers mean what they mean. I still learned many things about flowers.
5 people found this helpful
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A big disappointment

I expected a good deal more botanical and historical information, and the poetry selection was awful!
5 people found this helpful
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Great Gift for the Gardener in Your Life or for yourself

I will be giving this beautiful book to the avid gardeners in my life. I know they will be thrilled. The author, Odessa Begay, has produced a lovely volume of floral illustrations along with lots of interesting information about the botanical world. I am very happy with my purchase.
4 people found this helpful
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Beautiful hardcover

Beautiful hardcover of a classic!
3 people found this helpful
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Lovely all around

Beautiful book - both the illustrations and writing are lovely. Makes a great display or coffee table item. Good conversation starter too!
3 people found this helpful
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Daughter liked it

Bought it as a present, but cover was bent on receipt, which spoiled the effect of the present
✓ Verified Purchase

Good

I like the infiomation.
✓ Verified Purchase

Good

I like the infiomation.