The Medieval Flower Book

By Celia Fisher

Publication date: 24 October 2007

Medieval manuscripts abound with exquisite depictions of flowers and plants; bright blossoms are scattered across intricately decorated borders and golden ivy leaves trail over the painted pages. This sumptuously illustrated A to Z guide to medieval botany takes a closer look at 100 major varieties of flowers and plants that appear within the centuries-old pages of these manuscripts - from acanthus, anemones and apples to violets, vines and wallflowers.

Containing 140 images reproduced from the British Library’s outstanding collection of illuminated medieval manuscripts, this beautifully illustrated new title examines each variety and provides intriguing explanation of their uses, history and symbolism.

Presented in an accessible A to Z format, The Medieval Flower Book is packed with fascinating facts about plants and their uses in medieval life – readers may be intrigued to learn that blackberries or rubus fruticosus were traditionally recommended for various inflammatory afflictions, including tonsillitis and rheumatism. Betony (Stachys officinalis) was regarded as a powerful healing herb in the Middle Ages and is still used today to treat complaints that defy conventional medicine, such as migraines and digestive disorders. The bulbs of bluebells (hyacinthoides non-scripta syn) produced a form of glue, used for setting feathers on arrows, bookbinding and starching. Even the poisonous bryony (Bryonia dionica) was put to use in fertility charms.

Lavishly illustrated and fully annotated, The Medieval Flower Book will have a wide appeal for anyone interested in flowers and gardening, as well as those interested in medieval history or art.

For further information, images or review copies, contact Ruth Howlett at the British Library Press Office: 020 7412 7112 or ruth.howlett@bl.uk

Notes for Editors

The Medieval Flower Book by Celia Fisher, is published in hardback by the British Library, 24 October 2007, price £20.00 (144 pages, 280 x 216mm, 140 colour illustrations, ISBN 978 0 7123 4945 1). Available from the British Library Shop (tel: 020 7412 7735 / e-mail: bl-bookshop@bl.uk ) and online at www.bl.uk/shop as well as other bookshops throughout the UK.

Celia Fisher wrote her PhD thesis on flowers in illuminated manuscripts, is the author of Flowers and Fruit (National Gallery, 1998) and Flowers in Medieval Manuscripts (British Library, 2004), and has published extensively in art and gardening journals.