Lavender [Hardcover]

Hans Silvester (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 1996

The scent of lavender fills the air in the French region of Provence. Hans Silvester, who has loved and lived in Porvence for 30 years, here presents photographs of lavender in all four seasons, capturing the changing colors, shapes, and formal beauty of the fields. The text by Christiane Meunier, a professional in the fragrance industry, recounts the history of lavender.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This work comprises 132 opulent color photographs taken in the French region of Provence. Silvester photographed lavender and its hybrid, lavandin, in every season, lovingly capturing the ever-changing shapes and colors in the region's mountains and plains. Meunier's text, augmented by six black-and-white photographs, offers a brief history of the plant--it has grown naturally in Provence since ancient times, and since about 1900, it has been grown commercially--and explains how the plant is cultivated and harvested, then describes its medicinal and therapeutic uses. George Cohen

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 164 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (March 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810935767
• ISBN-13: 978-0810935761
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 9.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,843,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning book and informative as well for any lavender lover, March 2, 2006

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lavender: Fragrance of Provence (Hardcover)

A true lavender lover should own this book in my opinion if for no other reason that its beautiful lay out of the lavender of Provence thru all the seasons, in photographs and words. The books cover grabs your attention and as I sat and savoured the richness of the colour of the lavender I found myself actually smelling the growing flower, as if I were right there. On pages 56,57,58 I smiled as I looked at the almond trees that were dotted throughout the fields of lavender. Almonds being another delicious treat in France as well as here in California.

The one photo on page 83 of the old stone building in the midst of the fall lavender that has been harvested and the plants now resting, reminds me a great deal of a painting that Georgia O'Keeffe would have painted had she seen the lavender field shown.

Love the photos on pages 94 and 95 showing the sheep grazing amongst the lavender and the large field of lavender surrounded by vast fields of wheat, which remind me of areas around me, here in California. No wonder so many French settlers came to my area of California in the 1800's.

Then there are the winter photos of lavender fields at rest, with on beautiful photo on page 112 showing a man with his herd of goats, which is another reminder of the beautiful simplicity of life in Provence. Page 113 show a large over view of sleeping lavender field with sleeping vineyards and nut trees as well. Anyone who thinks nature is dead in winter need on view this photo as well as the one on page 115 with the fresh snow, tops of lavender plants under mounds of fresh snow and a path of what appears to be rabbit tracks in the snow.

The photos in combination with the beginning text of the book where one reads about the rich history of lavender in this region of France and how it is cultivated and used makes this a book that I am so happy I bought.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STUNNING pictures plus comprehensive text on a fascinating subject...., November 14, 2005

By 

Beyond-Is-Within Also (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lavender (Hardcover)

This is a SUPER-sleeper of a coffee table book. The info on this valuable herb is fascinating (do you know the difference between lavender and lavendin?), BUT some of the pictures of the countryside -- specifically the ones taken when the lavender rows are in brilliant purple (okay, lavender) against the surrounding greenery, soil, and trees -- are of a rare and surreally stunning beauty. Great production quality on heavy, semigloss stock. Get this bargain book for the visual exhilaration alone!

Also -- DO look into lavender essential oil, if you think this is just another lightweight "fragrance" herb. Lavender, besides having near-magical deodorizing properties, yields an essential oil so mild it is said to be usable on infants, ingestable in small quantities, and can be (usefully) poured on open wounds. Only sandalwood oil is reputed to be so innocuous, in addition to having potent healing/balancing properties.

In my experience, lavender can disinfect gum conditions, and a drop in the mouth in the evening cuts all craving for late night snacks! A few drops diffused in a room (or just brushed over the bedding, etc.) can transform stuffiness into a light, clean ambiance. Why not go for the whole knowledge/experience package?...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars lovely book of photos, January 9, 2007

By 

D. Rawnsley "book worm" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lavender: Fragrance of Provence (Hardcover)

Very good photos of the lavender fields in all seasons. Excellent, informative and well-researched introduction. My only regret is that the print seems a bit gray and the brightness of the fields and contrasting colours in the photos are not optimized by this.