Encompassing art, literature, science, technology, history, and everything in between, the stories behind rose varieties include enough curiosities, romance, tragedy, wit, mystery, scandal, and earthy delights to satisfy even those who would never dream of actually tending a plant. in addition to names, readers will learn that the perfume of 'Rosa Gallica' wafted through Pliny's Roman villa and lulled Marie Antoinette on the night before her wedding; that 'Eglantine' is threaded through Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream; that roses in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were mainly raised for medicinal purposes; and that the world of rose-naming rights is one of complicated and fiercely guarded copyrights and patents. With full-color art throughout, this eclectic little volume is a must-have for die-hard rosarians, and for the less rose-obsessed, it's simply a marvelous miscellany starring what is arguably the world's most popular flower.
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Enjoying some “Gourmet Popcorn” and “Barbra Streisand” alongside one’s “Chrysler Imperial” does not necessarily involve eating snacks and singing show tunes while driving down the highway, as one might assume. These are just three of more than 15,000 species and cultivars of roses, designations that epitomize the floral world’s stylistic marriage of the mundane and the sublime, the offbeat and the refined. Such is the curious nature of rose nomenclature, an idiosyncratic horticultural feature that often contributes as much to the prized flower’s allure as do its legendary fragrance and luminous colors. Rose aficionados, acclaimed authors, and dedicated gardeners, Brenner and Scanniello deftly explore the intricate history and enduring mystery behind four dozen of the most famous, obscure, exotic, and unassuming names in rose cultivation, from “American Beauty” and “Dr. Huey” to “Xanadu” and “Just Joey.” No helpful gardening tips to be found; instead, the authors provide plenty of arcane facts and tantalizing revelation in an equally entertaining and educational foray into the competitive, complicated, and frequently comical world of rose naming. --Carol Haggas
Review
"Rose aficionados, acclaimed authors, and dedicated gardeners, Brenner and Scanniello deftly explore the intricate history and enduring mystery behind four dozen of the most famous, obscure, exotic, and unassuming names in rose cultivation. . . .The authors provide plenty of arcane facts and tantalizing revelation in an equally entertaining and educational foray into the competitive, complicated, and frequently comical world of rose naming."—Booklist
(Booklist)“A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but its history would be very different. . . . Covering social and cultural history, technology, art, and science, A Rose by Any Name proves that a whole world can be found within the petals of a single rose. Consider the excerpt that follows our valentine to you.”—Martha Stewart Living
(Martha Stewart Living)“[Brenner & Scaniello] tell the naming stories of some 1,200 varieties of roses among the more than 15,000 registered rose species and cultivars in their highly entertaining new book, A Rose by Any Name. Each of its illuminating chapters reads almost like a mini biography, albeit of a plant. Best of all, the authors even reveal how you can name a rose after yourself.”—Town & Country
(Town & Country)"[A Rose by Any Name's] charming illustrations add to the enlightening origins, history and lore of more than 1,200 rose names."—Kansas City Star (Kansas City Star)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It's no secret that I love roses, especially heirloom roses. I love their gorgeous flowers. I love their heavenly scents. I love their toughness. And I love their names. Residing in my garden are Baronne Prevost, Cecile Brunner, General Jacqueminot, Mme. Pierre Oger, Mme. Plantier, Therese Bugnet and Zephirine Drouhin. Who were these people and why were roses named after them?
Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello set out to solve those mysteries. They initially chose about four dozen roses with interesting histories. But the problem with roses and their stories is that when you start out discussing one tale, it leads to another story about another rose which leads to yet another story about another rose, etc. By the time the authors finished, the four dozen roses had become over 1200.
It's those stories that make this book so fascinating. Rather than a dry list of names each followed by a short explanation of the person/place/thing for which the rose was named, we are treated to tales of danger, intrigue, humor and pathos, all with historical tidbits thrown in to put it into context.
We visit gardens that no longer exist and gardens that are still going strong. We learn about the game "Rose Alphabet" wherein players must come up with rose names for each letter of the alphabet. Also included are several recipes using rose petals or hips along with the story of the discovery of rose oil in India.
Most of all, it's the people and their stories. Gods and goddesses, kings and queens, saints and sinners. Presidents, war heroes, painters, fashion designers, actors and actresses. Humbler folk such as family members of rose breeders.
The authors debunk a few legends. My personal favorite is the quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: "I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall." Not true, unfortunately.
A glossary of rose and gardening terms is included as well as a bibliography, both very helpful. The lack of an index was the one glaring omission in this otherwise wonderful book. There is no way to look up a specific rose.
As for the "people" growing in my gardens? Five of them are covered, but you will have to read the book yourself to find out which ones and the stories behind them.
Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello set out to solve those mysteries. They initially chose about four dozen roses with interesting histories. But the problem with roses and their stories is that when you start out discussing one tale, it leads to another story about another rose which leads to yet another story about another rose, etc. By the time the authors finished, the four dozen roses had become over 1200.
It's those stories that make this book so fascinating. Rather than a dry list of names each followed by a short explanation of the person/place/thing for which the rose was named, we are treated to tales of danger, intrigue, humor and pathos, all with historical tidbits thrown in to put it into context.
We visit gardens that no longer exist and gardens that are still going strong. We learn about the game "Rose Alphabet" wherein players must come up with rose names for each letter of the alphabet. Also included are several recipes using rose petals or hips along with the story of the discovery of rose oil in India.
Most of all, it's the people and their stories. Gods and goddesses, kings and queens, saints and sinners. Presidents, war heroes, painters, fashion designers, actors and actresses. Humbler folk such as family members of rose breeders.
The authors debunk a few legends. My personal favorite is the quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: "I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall." Not true, unfortunately.
A glossary of rose and gardening terms is included as well as a bibliography, both very helpful. The lack of an index was the one glaring omission in this otherwise wonderful book. There is no way to look up a specific rose.
As for the "people" growing in my gardens? Five of them are covered, but you will have to read the book yourself to find out which ones and the stories behind them.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By S. V. Griep
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have always been interested in how various roses got their names. This book goes well beyond the naming of the roses to telling so many wonderful stories about the various roses and the people whom loved them enough to bring them forth for all of us to enjoy. There is room for sequels to this book and I hope they write more! Well worth every penny paid for this book. Some fantastic art work in this book as well as a great reciepe for making Rose Water. Very enjoyable!! All rose lovers need this book in their library.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Muir Beach
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a lovely little book - and was just the perfect Valentine I hoped it would be
for someone who loves and grows roses.
for someone who loves and grows roses.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't put this book down!
What a wonderful history of the naming of well known Old Garden Roses. I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to any one who loves roses, you will find it delightful!
Published 1 month ago by Gardening Maria
5.0 out of 5 stars
The perfect book for a rose lover!
I purchased this book for my mother who loves roses, and she loves it! It's a book that's every bit as lovely as the subject it covers.
Published 4 months ago by Brigette
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rose book
I bought this as a gift and it is not only lovely but has interesting historys on roses of many kinds.
Published 5 months ago by beckytrn
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great gift
I bought this for a gift and my mom loved it!! She is a member of the Rose Society and was excited to share with the other members.
Published 17 months ago by J. Clagg
5.0 out of 5 stars
ROSES FOR A ROSE
I MARRIED A ROSE WHO LOVES ROSES AND GROWS ROSES, SO HOW COULD I BUY A BETTER GIFT FOR A GIRL LIKE THAT....
CALVIN ATWOOD
CALVIN ATWOOD
Published 21 months ago by Calvin W. Atwood
5.0 out of 5 stars
gift for gardeners in your life !
I purchased this for a dear friend who is a weekend gardener. She found it very interesting and found some roses she will plant in her garden this year. Read more
Published on April 9, 2010 by Reen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet roses
So enjoyable that I bought a copy as a Christmas gift for a friend who does rose gardening. Need I say more?
Published on January 17, 2010 by Fiona Lowther
5.0 out of 5 stars
A SPECIAL BOOK FOR A ROSE LOVER & HISTORIAN. TOTALLY INTERESTING!!!
THIS WAS A GIFT FOR MY HUSBAND AND WE BOTH ENDED UP READING IT TO EACH OTHER. THE TIDBITS OF INFORMATION MAKE HISTORY IN A SENSE COME ALIVE. Read more
Published on July 4, 2009 by J. Maxwell
5.0 out of 5 stars
A lovely book.
A lot of fun to dip into here and there. Lovely illustrations in each chapter.
Published on May 29, 2009 by Frances Di Pasqua
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Rose by Any Name
I've never been a big fan of roses, however, I love the etymology of names and phrases, so I was extremely excited to get a hold of this book and I was not disappointed. Read more
Published on May 13, 2009 by Thoughts on the Arts
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