I checked the Jennifer Potter book out from our library recently. I only skimmed a bit of it.

Physically it's a very beautiful, well-made book. The paper is glossy and thick, making it very heavy. Nice illustrations. Her introduction says her interest in the subject began with an interview with Peter Beales and asking him what were his 10 favorite roses.

It's not a "how-to" book, but a history of the rose, how it has been used or revered throughout human history. The parts I did read were accurate and well researched. The description at Amazon is good. Too bad they don't have the "Look Inside" feature for this book.

I can check it out again if you like and the list the chapter titles. I know there was one about Josephine and Malmaison. Another focusing on the use of roses for their scent, the perfume industry and all. The medicinal use of the rose in history. The religious use--symbol for the Virgin Mary, etc.

My only gripe with it was that it was so big and heavy, I really couldn't "curl up" with it.

tedious rubbish although it may well flatter readers into believing they are delving deep into art and culture. Still, it was given a huge display in 2 local bookshops but within weeks, the price had dropped from something stratospheric (when I obviously didn't buy it) to under 8 pounds (when I did). The usual dash through all the typical historical and arty stuff, seen through the eyes of the standard european academic (yah know, all white male classicism greeks, romans, queen elizabeth, yadda,yadda) with bits of racy symbolism thrown in for added titivation.
Of course, as a curmudgeonly philistine, my ahem 'review' may well be all the encouragement you may need to grab this book and sink into the pretentious ennui of the classics buff - as for myself, not even in the depths of a dull winter could I manage more than the odd page here and there. I consider myself to be a gardener, and not a bad one either (she modestly speaks) but again, there seems to be this need to tie in a love of plants into all areas of life. In fact, there has been a rash of this sort of thing - a sort of history of common objects or materials (salt, cod, wine, shoes, even the home) and an attempt to categorise all things through the lens of one particular item. I can see the appeal but really, time to get my coat and spades.

Okay Comanula -- Now can you tell us how you REALLY feel about the book?

no problem, jaxondula.

LOL

I think a thoroughly researched study of the social uses and significance of roses might well be of interest, but the Potter tome is not that book. Might make a nice coffee table book, in a few years after copies make their way to the second hand market.