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Product Description
Product Description
This landmark guide offers a comprehensive survey of the native and naturalized wild plants of England, Scotland, and Wales. Useful and delightful, it covers 1,000 species, including trees and ferns. More than a definitive work of natural history, however, it is also a virtual encyclopedia of living folklore, recording the role of wild plants in social life, the arts, customs, and landscapes. The information has been supplied by the people themselves, creating a unique national record of the popular culture, domestic uses, and social meanings of Britain's wild plants. Splendidly written by naturalist Richard Mabey and illustrated with 500 fine color photographs, "Flora Britannica" is an elegant testimony to the continuing relationship between nature and man.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
135 of 143 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Once, even the most illiterate British home possessed a few books. Not just the obvious culprits like the bible or a world atlas, but the less recognised publications too, like the AA's UK Road Guide, Home-brewing for Beginners and, favourite of all, the Reader's Digest Guide to British Wildlife and Plants. The Reader's Digest guides don't seem to be around anymore, but never mind, because 'Flora Britannica' deserves to take its place in all our lives. It's richly-coloured photographs detail the flowers, plants and even weeds of the UK. Their stories, place in history, medicinal uses, recipes - even their appearance in nursery rhymes, they're all covered between the pages of this glorious book. Thousands of people all over the UK contributed to this book, and it shows. Every page feels like Mabey's labour of love. Apparently it took five years to put together and was a decade in the planning. I can believe it too. Buy the hardback, treat it like an old friend, pass it on to your children. 'Flora Britannica' is destined to be the an heirloom for the 21st century.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I recall hearing Richard Mabey discussing this book on a radio show, before it was published and thinking its premise: collecting contibutors' personal experiences of British plant life, seemed rather uninspired. Surely this kind of thing has been done to death? Nature magazine columns have been filled for years with people writing accounts of things they have seen in the British countryside.
When it was published, I was further put off by the high price of the book.
I was completely wrong on both counts, the price, when the size, scope and quality of the book are considered, seems more than reasonable. As to the premise of the work, Richard Mabey, a genius writer in my opinion, pulls all the various accounts from amateur contributors together into a cohesive and coherent whole, that manages to maintain the same well mannered and good humoured tone throughout its long length.
It is possible to read the book piecemeal, picking out species that interest you specially , but I feel reading it from cover to cover best allows the reader to appreciate what the author has achieved.
This is not an identification guide, although the photographs are of top quality, and the amount of space devoted to each species varies wildly, but the "Flora" succeeds in its aim to be a folk history rather than purely a Natural History work.
Beware of books that may seem to continue this work, e.g."Fauna Britannica", which do not, in fact, have much in common with this fine volume.
When it was published, I was further put off by the high price of the book.
I was completely wrong on both counts, the price, when the size, scope and quality of the book are considered, seems more than reasonable. As to the premise of the work, Richard Mabey, a genius writer in my opinion, pulls all the various accounts from amateur contributors together into a cohesive and coherent whole, that manages to maintain the same well mannered and good humoured tone throughout its long length.
It is possible to read the book piecemeal, picking out species that interest you specially , but I feel reading it from cover to cover best allows the reader to appreciate what the author has achieved.
This is not an identification guide, although the photographs are of top quality, and the amount of space devoted to each species varies wildly, but the "Flora" succeeds in its aim to be a folk history rather than purely a Natural History work.
Beware of books that may seem to continue this work, e.g."Fauna Britannica", which do not, in fact, have much in common with this fine volume.
66 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a high quality books - with good photographs and decent length entries on the wild flowers, herbs and trees you'll know if you have grown up in the country.
The marvellous bit about it is the way the author has drawn from contributors all over the country who have passed on their local names, stories and memories about common British plants. A real storehouse to be read and enjoyed on those windy and wet days when you can't go out and look for yourself. Many people's memories are from childhood, a reminder that we often really get to know the plants and animals around us in our early years. So it is a book to keep and hand on.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
flora britannica
This is superb copy of this fantastic book. The symbolism of flowers and their local names in many parts of the country is very well told. I'm very happy I bought it.
Published 9 months ago by bobd
A fascinating and scholarly book
Flora Britannica is a book about the role of plants in human life, past and present. It is descriptive, discursive, witty and heart-warming. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Peasant
mistitled but fun
It is true that this has to be one of the worse titled books of all time. A FLORA in any sense here should be an identification guide and it isn't that at all - it is a personal... Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2007 by gabrial
Serious misdescription
Flora Britannica may be a fine book for what it is, as an essay or encyclopedia about British plants, but it is NOT what the title and description clearly imply - a comprehensive... Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2007 by Mr. P. A. Goddard
Not for the serious horticulturist
I was thinking for some positives to write on this book and not much came to mind. It is a perfectly fine book. Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2004 by James T
A good book overall
This is a very good encyclopedia, with a lot of information about the history and uses of the various plants found in Britain. Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2003
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