Product Description

An acclaimed nature writer reveals the secret life of flowers. In Anatomy of a Rose, Sharman Apt Russell eloquently unveils the "inner life" of flowers. From their diverse fragrances to their nasty deceptions, Russell proves that, where nature is concerned, 'wonder is not only our starting point, it can also be our destination.' Throughout this botanical journey, she reveals that the science behind these intelligent plants - how they evolved, how they survive, how they heal - is even more awe-inspiring than their fleeting beauty. Russell helps us imagine what a field of snapdragons looks like to a honeybee, and she introduces us to flowers that regulate their own temperature, attract pollinating bats, even smell like a rotting corpse. She also delves into cutting-edge research on everything from flower senses to their healing power. Long used to ease everything from depression to childbirth, flowers are now our main line of defence against childhood leukaemia and the deadly Ebola virus. In this wonderful book, which combines graceful writing with a scientist's clarity, Russell brings together the work of botanists around the globe, and illuminates a world at once familiar and exotic.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #946795 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Ruth Rendell, The Times
‘…the effect of this book is to make us look anew at our gardens or rush out and buy a bunch of flowers’

Publishing News
‘It is a wonderful tale written simply but elegantly and with a true scientist’s clarity. The gardeners of this world will find it wonderful armchair reading’

From the Publisher
A wonderfully written exploration of the sex and science of flowers, in the tradition of Anna Pavord’s The Tulip and Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief.

Customer Reviews

Good introduction to the secret lives of flowers
I have a deep love of nature and discovered this small book when I was searching for books on butterflies. Sharman Apt Russell wrote a similar book about our love of butterflies, and so I became aware of her style then. Admittedly, when I first read her book on butterflies, I was somewhat disappointed, however because I came to ANATOMY OF A ROSE: THE SECRET LIVES OF FLOWERS after having read another book by her, I knew roughly what to expect.

As an introduction to the secret life of flowers, Russell has done a good job. I came to the book having not much knowledge of flowers, apart from the basics taught during my time at school. So, what I liked about ANATOMY OF A ROSE was that it was easily understandable. Russell's writing style is not academic per se, but rather an intimate examination of her subject. In some ways, her style reflects that that you would find in a memoir.
However, whilst this style allows the layperson to easily grasp what she is trying to pass on, at times it can become rather frustrating. I have a love of orchids and Russell often refers to different orchids throughout the book. But instead of being precise about which particular orchid she is referring to, she just vaguely says "one orchid". After this is done repetitively, it does become infuriating. The orchid family is so large, to be so vague just seems so lazy and pointless.
Having said that, what Russell has managed to do is create a book that should help to ignite interest in people to go out and find out more about this fascinating subject. Rusell makes many references to another book, THE ROSE'S KISS, throughout her own work, so this may be the next logical step.