THE BOTANISTS' LIBRARY: The Most Important Botanical Books in History
CAROLYN FRY & EMMA WAYLAND
Ivy Press
$40.00 hardcover,available now
Rating: 4.5* of five
The Publisher Says: Discover a vast treasure trove of botanical knowledge in The Botanist’s Library, a superbly illustrated collection of 300+ seminal books and illustrations from throughout history.
From the earliest manuscripts penned by visionary naturalists, to the modern tomes that continue to shape our understanding of the plant kingdom, this book is a testament to the tireless dedication of the world's greatest botanists. Its compelling narrative and visual journey make it a must-have addition to the library of anyone fascinated by the beauty and complexity of the plant kingdom.
This complete guide traces the development of botanical science through era-defining publications, covering:
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Looking at beautiful books is only made more satisfying when they are books about books. Here we have a book about the reasons for, the history and contributions of, and the need to preserve, ancient books of botany. The topics of botany's history, its centrality to the development of science and the scientific method, and...surprisingly to me...the art of printing get a pretty thorough overview here. Centuries of work by many talented people including women (at a time when that was not normal) are laid before what I expect will be your admiring gaze.
These sample spreads will show you just how well the authors and the publishers understood what the assignment was:
Why did I, after saying only laudatory things, knock a half-star off this beautifully illustrated, well-written book's score? I have a quibble with a thorough book promised and a truncated one delivered. The subject is huge, this book shouldn't be called a "comprehensive reference." An entire physical library can be, and has been more than once, dedicated to even just the scientific edges of the topic. It's not possible to do a comprehensive anything on a subject of this age and magnitude.
That doesn't mean this utterly gorgeous object should not find its way to your coffee table for Yule. It should. I viewed it on my Galaxy tablet and it looked spectacular, so assuming you're not looking at it on an ereader, a digital version for yourself if you're gifting a hardcover to someone you love like sixty will give you value for dollar spent.
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