The Heritage of Trees: History, Culture, and Symbolism [Hardcover]

Fred Hageneder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2002

A wide-ranging study of the symbolism and cultural meaning of the tree through history, from the Cosmic Tree of antiquity to modern European, American and Asian customs and beliefs. Many people today take the presence of trees for granted, unaware of their greater significance in stabilizing the Earth's ecology, or the veneration bestowed on them by ancient peoples. In the companion volume, The Spirit of Trees, Fred Hageneder captivated readers with a passionate and informed account of the natural life and ecology of trees. The Heritage of Trees, extends his description of the relationship between humanity and trees down the centuries, evoking forest customs, images and meanings of the forest from the Stone Age to modern times.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A delightful book to read, well researched, very informative ... really interesting and with plenty of illustrations.' -- New View Magazine 'A concisely written anthropological account of tree-worship across several different ages and civilisations. An impressive breadth of knowledge.' -- Country Life, January 2002 'A fascinating book, well researched and richly illustrated. It deserves to be read by all of us that have an interest in the Tree at the centre of world evolution.' -- Ernst Nef, Camphill Correspondence, June 2002 'A real gift for those interested in the deeper meaning of trees.' -- Scientific and Medical Network Review, April 2002

About the Author

Fred Hageneder is a harpist, graphic designer and artist whose passion for trees started in his teens. He has composed music for The Celtic Tree Circle, and painted tree portraits, many of which appear in The Spirit of Trees (Floris Books, 2000). Born in Hamburg, he now lives in the Cotswolds, England.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Floris Books (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863153593
• ISBN-13: 978-0863153594
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,021,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars a different take on trees, February 3, 2010

By 

Ian Picken "phoenix" (lachlan tasmania) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Heritage of Trees: History, Culture, and Symbolism (Hardcover)

this book is truly educational, I am a horticulturalist and found it to be well written,detailed without being pedantic,interesting and gave me a different way of looking at trees.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An enticing theme, compelling graphics ... but marred by jumbled exposition, May 26, 2007

By 

Terry Serres (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heritage of Trees: History, Culture, and Symbolism (Hardcover)

This book traces the symbolism of the tree, starting in the Fertile Crescent and migrating to early Europe: tree as symbol of life and of the cosmos, tree as place of physical and spiritual nurture. This attractive volume is chock-full of compelling graphics; however, its presentation of background information and exposition of ideas is glib and jumbled. The reader is left hungering for primary sources and rigorous scholarship.