Rosa: The Story of the Rose - Hardcover

by Peter E. Kukielski (Author), Charles Phillips (Author), Judith B. Tankard (Foreword by)

A beautifully illustrated and unique history of the rose--the "queen of flowers"--in art, medicine, cuisine, and more

"From noted rosarian Peter Kukielski comes this unique and handsome book that traces the many ways that roses have captured human imagination throughout the history of civilization."--Meghan Shinn, Horticulture

"I would recommend Rosa as a gift for anyone who loves flowers, although once purchased you would find it hard to pass on!"--Judith Blacklock, Flora Magazine

Few flowers have quite the same allure or as significant a place in history as the rose. A symbol of love, power, royalty, beauty, and joy, the rose has played many roles, both literal and symbolic, in poetry, art, literature, music, fashion, medicine, perfume, decoration, cuisine, and more.

In this beautifully illustrated guide, award-winning horticulturist Peter E. Kukielski and his coauthor, Charles Phillips, tell the fascinating and many-layered history of this "queen of flowers." The book explores many stories from the long association of roses with human societies, from their first cultivation--likely in China some five thousand years ago--to their modern genetic cultivars. It shows how roses have been prominent across time and many cultures, including ancient Greece and Rome, Christianity, Islam, and Sufism.

The book, with more than 140 color illustrations, offers a unique look at the essential contributions that roses have made throughout human history.

Author Biography

Peter E. Kukielski is an acclaimed horticulturalist who was curator of the award-winning Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at the New York Botanical Garden from 2006 to 2014. He lives in Portland, ME. Charles Phillips is a writer and editor with more than 30 years' experience. He lives in London, England.