"Take borage for courage. Send a bouquet of yarrow to declare war. Hang a sprig of rue at the door to keep witches at bay." Like flowers, herbs are steeped in myth and magic, secrets and lore. For centuries, their powers have been called upon to seduce lovers and dispel witches, send hidden messages and brew potent elixirs, entice the palate and soothe the mind. Illustrated with enchanting collages by acclaimed artist Ann Field, this delightful tribute to the meaning and magic of herbs offers a contemporary introduction to an age-old tradition. The text draws on botanical, mythological, and historical sources worldwide, from ancient Rome to Victorian England, from Asia to the Americas, presenting profiles of over 50 herbs favored through the ages. Blending fact, folktale, natural history, and original art, The Meaning of Herbs explores the language and lore of nature's most versatile and powerful gifts.
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About the Author
Ann Field has work that includes distinctive collages and bright illustrations that have been featured in many books, magazines, and exhibitions around the world. Her artwork also appears in Citrus. Born in England, today she lives in Santa Monica, Califor
Gretchen Scoble is a designer whose elegant and lively books have received many awards. She lives in Bainbridge Island, Washington.
Gretchen Scoble is a designer whose elegant and lively books have received many awards. She lives in Bainbridge Island, Washington.
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14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice little gift....,
This review is from: The Meaning of Herbs: Myth, Language & Lore (Hardcover)
Who doesn't like herbs? THE MEANING OF HERBS is not at all about actually growing herbs. So, if your looking for a gardening book try THE COMPLETE BOOK OF HERBS by Lesley Bremness or RODALE'S ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBS. THE MEANING OF HERBS is filled with fun factoids and trivial tales that may or may not be true. For example, "Early herbalists prescribed oregano to those who 'are given to too much sighing' and enraged bears were believed to calm themselves by chewing on oregano bushes." This may be, but knowing where bears come from and the origin of oregano, I suspect the bears in question discovered the oregano cure quite by accident in someone's cultivated herb patch (probably right over there in the Great Smokies). And of course, some human must have been around to observe and record the enraged bear as he became becalmed by chewing oregano leaves. (Wonder what enraged him to begin with? Could it be he got into the gardener's bee hive and tried to eat oregano flower honey?). THE MEANING OF HERBS will make a nice party favor, thank-you gift, or a small present for a friend. Filled with somewhat amusing and interesting anectdotes about herbs (and bears) as well as lots of pretty drawings, it's sure to send a warm and positive message.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not Worth the Tree that Gave it's Life,
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This review is from: The Meaning of Herbs: Myth, Language & Lore (Hardcover)
This book is not for someone who actually wants to know how an herb has been used in the past, despite the fact that it promises to provide this information in the title. Not organized alphabetically, no glossary, and the information is as incomplete and inaccurate as possible while still using up valuable paper. Most of us know something about the lore of the Mustard Seed and spiritual faith, these authors didn't even mention that, but instead said, "mentioned in the bible," without even one specific reference. The photos and nice binding are the best part, but not even good enough to be clipped for another use. Don't buy this book unless you are looking for a greeting card for someone named Rosemary that doesn't have above a 6th grade education.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The leaf of the coriander plant constitutes an herb in its own right-cilantro, or Chinese parsley-while the seed, whole or ground, has been used in cooking for over five thousand years, making the plant as a whole extraordinarily valuable to the chef. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
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The leaf of the coriander plant constitutes an herb in its own right-cilantro, or Chinese parsley-while the seed, whole or ground, has been used in cooking for over five thousand years, making the plant as a whole extraordinarily valuable to the chef. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Nicholas Culpeper New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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cites this book:
- The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Fifteenth Annual Collection by Terri Windling in Front Matter
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