5.0 out of 5 stars
Multum in parvo, or a Tardis of herbalism, 11 Jan 2011
This review is from: Pocket Encyclopaedia of Herbs (DK Pocket Encyclopedia) (Paperback)
Such a small book that one would expect it to be trivial and slight; instead it is packed with splendid stuff which will be useful as a ready reference to the expert enthusiast as well as the beginner.
The first section is an alphabetical guide by Latin name; the common names are given prominently and any difficulty in finding what you want is covered by a comprehensive index. Each plant is illustrated with "cut-out" photos against a white background, with accompanying description, reminiscent of botanical illustrations. Dried leaves, seeds and roots are shown as well as the living plant. A snippet of history is given and a textbox adds the uses.
This takes up about 40% of the book. There follows a chapter on Cooking With Herbs with a selection of varied recipes, well laid out and illustrated with some good photos. The recipes are out of the usual and feature the herbs as a main flavouring, for example "Tagliatelli with marigold sauce aurore" and "Gooseberry and elderflower cream".
"Herbs in the Home" comes next with fresh and dried arrangements, "tussie mussies" (scented posies), wreaths, garlands, pot pourri, and such miscellania as herb pillows, furniture polishes and ways of repelling pests. "Herbs for beauty" has skin creams and lotions, herb baths, face packs and hair care as well as recipes for mouthwash, and so on.
"Herbs for health" has an introductory section on preparing herbal medicines, followed by a modest A-Z of treatments arranged by the disorder or illness. This section has been edited with care and an eye to safety; it is intended to be used by the untrained and there is nothing here to frighten the horses. I have tried several of the remedies and found them useful.
The last section covers growing herbs, and opens with an alphabetical guide to cultivation, arranged again by Latin name. A very brief description of soil preparation, growing from seeds and cuttings, herbs in containers and so on is well-written if compact. Finally harvesting, preserving and storing herbs get a page or so each.
This is a POCKET encyclopaedia and one cannot ask for everything in 238 fairly small pages. However the clear layout, well-edited text and good use of illustrations means it acheives a remarkable amount. If you aren't amassing a library of herbal books, and want just one to use on a daily basis, this is the best I've seen.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
growing out of your ears, 30 April 2006
This review is from: Pocket Encyclopaedia of Herbs (DK Pocket Encyclopedia) (Paperback)
This is splendidly illustrated book of every herb you might dream of. The remarks on each are pertinent and I could hardly imagine more colourful artwork. A word of warning though; the slant is very much to the 'medical' ; less about cooking than some might want and certainly not enough about growing conditions for gardeners. There is a little too much of the 'may alleviate certain forms of cancer' for the liking of some and slightly too little botany. But any book that teaches one that alfalfa was given to Arab horses as they saw it gave them a fillip or finally sorts out which mint is which should be on any shelf; be it kitchen or bathroom.
First rate though.
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