The Orchid in Lore and Legend

This is a black-and-white edition.

Library Journal

This translation of Il Fiore Degli Dei by the late Italian garden historian Berliocchi is a welcome addition to the growing genre of literary works devoted to orchids, such as Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief (LJ 1/99) and Eric Hansen's Orchid Fever (LJ 2/15/00). In this book, the author explores the history, lore, ethnobotany, and cultivation of the fabulous flower. Some of the topics covered, such as orchid horticulture and the chronicle of orchid discovery by European plant hunters, are more thoroughly and authoritatively treated elsewhere in the orchid literature. However, Berliocchi's examination of orchid lore and mythology in various cultures and throughout history, the depiction of orchids in the arts and literature, and the culinary uses of the orchids will be new to most audiences, specialists and general readers alike. Highly recommended for most libraries.--Brian Lym, City Coll. Lib. of San Francisco Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Luigi Berliocchi (1953-1999) was a lecturer in garden history at the University of Reggio Calabria. He also wrote the text for Vanished Gardens of Rome as well as a study of the origin and history of Mediterranean plants and their presence in art.