Flower of legend and mystery, the rose has inspired great artists throughout history. From Antiquity to the present day, poets have sung its beauties, sculptors and artists have sought to depict its delicacy, and perfumers have drawn on its subtle and captivating scent.

From Roman banquets strewn with rose petals to Medieval poems of courtly love; from Madame de Pompadour's delightful rose-strewn interiors to finely woven rose-motif fabrics for the Vanderbilt summer residence; from Monet's magical garden at Giverny to Colette's favorite "Maiden's Blush"; from contemporary wedding cake decoration to bouquets by Europe's finest florists-- The Book of Roses invites rose-lovers to sit back and indulge in the beauty of the rose in all its splendor.

No other flower in the world is as greatly loved as the rose. With its heady perfume and timeless appeal, the rose is more than a pretty bloom-- it is an enchantment for all the senses. This beautifully illustrated homage will delight all rose-lovers with its thematic chapters inviting us to enjoy the queen of flowers in her many guises.

The Book of Roses retraces stories and legends from across the ages in which the rose takes pride of place, and examines its age-old role as political and religious emblem, and as a symbol of human emotion and experience, from fidelity to loss of innocence, from love to death. The beauty and diversity of the rose is shown at its finest in its natural environment, the garden, but also in floral displays in the home; in art, design, and fashion; in fragrances and perfumes; and in refined recipes for the gourmet. The Book of Roses is completed by an address book listing a selection of the best rose gardens, nurseries, exhibitions and shows, and rose-inspired florists, decorators, fashion designers, fragrances, and food stores from around the world.

Author Sylvie Girard-Lagorce has written more than sixty lifestyle and cookbooks. She is a contributor to the foremost reference work of the cookery world, the Larousse Gastronomique, and has co-written a book on the Troisgros brothers, who are among the most celebrated of French chefs.

The photographer Christian Sarramon, who produced the specially commissioned photography for this book, is well known for his work on many of the world's leading interior design magazines, including House & Garden, Vogue Décoration, Marie-Claire Maison, Maison Française, and Elle Décoration. He has published two books with Flammarion, Living in Amsterdam and Living in Paris.

Stylist Nello Renault.