Product Description

Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet?

Shaped like a miter’s cap or delicately hued like the pearl-colored petticoats of a duchess, scented like honeyed almonds or nodding heavily in the wind, every old-fashioned rose possesses a unique character. And their names–often drawn from history and mythology–have stories as enchanting and evocative as the flowers themselves.

This gorgeously photographed collection of fifty exquisite roses reveals how some of the world’s most storied, beloved plants received their names, and how the names go hand in hand with the flowers’ appearance and fragrance. It’s a voyage of discovery for rose connoisseurs, garden enthusiasts, and anyone else who appreciates delicate blooming beauty.

Joining the rose parade are:

storied characters such as Greenmantle, the heroine of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Redgauntlet. As attention-getting as the character’s exquisite green silk cape, the rose’s leaves, rather than its blossoms, are the source of its heady fragrance.

Artful personalities such as Peter Paul Rubens, the Flemish master whose paintings often featured the luminous skin of voluptuous goddesses. Fittingly, his namesake rose is a heavenly flesh color, tinged with pink.

Heroes, heroines, and rascals such as Napoléon. The petals of his eponymous rose become darker and more disheveled as they age, much like the emperor who fell deep into madness after building an empire.

Nobles and notables such as King Louis-Philippe. Some liken the rich fragrance of this rose to cherries, although the shape of its buds may be more true to its namesake’s character: The king was often portrayed in caricatures as a pear.

Well-bred ladies and gents such as the intrepid British tea thief Robert Fortune. On a secret mission in China, he clipped the rose that became known as ‘Fortune’s Double Yellow’.

With vivid accounts of the colorful figures who inspired the names of the roses and with lyrical descriptions of the flowers themselves, Pink Ladies & Crimson Gents is a valentine to the rose, a feast for the eyes, and a delightful gift for any romantic soul.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #423844 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-22
• Released on: 2008-04-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

About the Author
MOLLY GLENTZER is the lifestyle editor of the Houston Chronicle and has written for Saveur, Food & Wine, and Good Housekeeping.

Photographer DON GLENTZER’s work is represented in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Witliff Gallery of Southwestern and Mexican photography.

Customer Reviews

Pink Ladies and Crimson Gents: Portraits and Legends of 50 Roses
This little book is a delight and a treasure! I have read and re-read it several times, not to mention gifting it to several rose friends.

The writing is informative, yet entertaining. The photographs are gorgeous and guaranteed to set a rose-lover off on a search for plants of their own. I recommend this one for your own collection, the night table in the guest room and to give to friends.

Roses, Roses!
Bought this for my mom as a gift after seeing it mentioned in Victoria magazine. It is a BEAUTIFUL book! Not too large, but with the nice paper and beautiful photos of a coffee table type book. She loved it - and that's what really counts!

beautiful flower book
I bought this book as a gift for a flower loving friend. Even though she is not particularly into roses, it was such a beautifully illustrated and interestingly annotated piece that it was a real success. I just might get one for myself. It makes a great small coffee table book as each easily read description can be finished in just a few minutes. Its a truly wonderful little book.