Flower of legend and mystery, the rose has inspired great artists throughout history. From Antiquity to the present day, poets have sung its beauties, sculptors and artists have sought to depict its delicacy, and perfumers have drawn on its subtle and captivating scent. From Roman banquets strewn with rose petals to Medieval poems of courtly love; from Madame de Pompadour's delightful rose-strewn interiors to finely woven rose-motif fabrics for the Vanderbilt summer residence; from Monet's magical garden at Giverny to Colette's favorite "Maiden's Blush"; from contemporary wedding cake decoration to bouquets by Europe's finest florists-- "The Book of Roses" invites rose-lovers to sit back and indulge in the beauty of the rose in all its splendor. No other flower in the world is as greatly loved as the rose. With its heady perfume and timeless appeal, the rose is more than a pretty bloom-- it is an enchantment for all the senses. This beautifully illustrated homage will delight all rose-lovers with its thematic chapters inviting us to enjoy the queen of flowers in her many guises. "The Book of Roses "retraces stories and legends from across the ages in which the rose takes pride of place, and examines its age-old role as political and religious emblem, and as a symbol of human emotion and experience, from fidelity to loss of innocence, from love to death. The beauty and diversity of the rose is shown at its finest in its natural environment, the garden, but also in floral displays in the home; in art, design, and fashion; in fragrances and perfumes; and in refined recipes for the gourmet. "The Book of Roses" is completed by an address book listing a selection of the best rosegardens, nurseries, exhibitions and shows, and rose-inspired florists, decorators, fashion designers, fragrances, and food stores from around the world.

It is winter in London. Eliza Cummings, a ceramics restorer at the V&A Museum, is leaving work when she receives an unexpected phone call. Standing in the haze of the Christmas lights she hears a voice which draws her back twenty-five years - to the tragic death of her best friend. But why does Rose's father want her to visit him? Why now? And why is he killing her with kindness when they both know that he blames her for what happened to his daughter? Grief and guilt cast terrible shadows, but as this beautifully wrought story unfolds and the scene shifts from London to the fairy tale landscape of the Swedish countryside - and back in time to Eliza's school days - we learn that generosity, humour and friendship can smooth over and restore even the most broken lives, and that some secrets just can't be kept hidden...

Wide-wielding and strange, an invitation into an artist’s secret empire.

Her childhood nearly destroyed her. Only the magic of the garden could save her. Poppy was six years old when she was rescued from her abusive mother and taken to her grandparents' farm to recover. There, under a wide South African sky, Poppy succumbs to the magic of their garden. Slowly, her memories fade and her wounds began to heal. But as Poppy grows up into a strange, fierce and beautiful young woman, her childhood memories start to surface. And then a love affair with a married man across the valley explodes her world...

After she discovers an old doll that had belonged to her mother and her grandmother, Sophie grows to love the doll more and more even though she is missing some hair, gets chocolate-stained, and loses an eye.