Floriography

Flowers can talk. Red roses say 'I love you'. White lilies offer condolence. Poppies invite us to remember. For thousands of years, humans have used flowers as a language, a short-hand for emotions and meanings. Ancient myths and legends are bursting with flowers and their symbolic meaning; Shakespeare scattered floral clues throughout his plays, knowing his medieval audience could decipher the code; the buttoned-up Victorians used 'floriography' or the secret language of flowers to convey forbidden feelings.Valentine's Day isn't complete without a bunch of red roses, mistletoe invites us to sneak a kiss, daises are the flower of childhood innocence, and daffodils speak of Easter and new life. Oxford University students still wear white carnations for their first exams, a red carnation for their final exam and pink in between.

In her new book, Sally Coulthard, takes a fascinating look at floriography and shows how we still use this secret language, across the world, even today. She delves into the meanings of flowers and where they came from, whether it's ancient mythology or hedgerow folklore. She finds that many flowers get their meanings from subtle references to their medicinal or deadly properties, while others are linked to ancient rites or religious texts. Some flowers even get their meanings from sympathetic magic or their resemblance to human body parts or other common objects.

Covering 50 well-loved flowers and plants, from peonies to sweetpeas, ivy to irises, Floriography is a beautifully illustrated book takes the reader on an intriguing journey across the world through the history, legend, anthropology and literature of flowers, and shows how modern-day society still holds many of ancient beliefs and customs of their ancestors. From the Chinese lotus flower to the Celtic bluebell, the myth, magic and language of flowers is still blossoming today.