A Short History of Flowers by Advolly Richmond

A Short History of Flowers, by Advolly Richmond, is one of the most beautiful books to have ever come into my possession.  In an of itself, with its gorgeous prose and breathtakingly lovely illustrations, it is, quite simply, a work of art.  As an informational, illustrated guide to the history and characteristics of our planet’s most beautiful flowers, it is an invaluable resource.  In its ability to serve as both a work of art and a font of amazing history and information, it is nothing short of an absolutely captivating tour de force.  This wonderful work was unknown to me until only a few months ago, when RGG contributor, and UK master plantswoman, Sam Preston, dialed me in to it.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with Sam’s background, I’ll mention that in addition to being a brilliant, award-winning master gardener, she’s also an incredibly talented artist, a published author, and a voracious reader.  When someone with a background like Sam’s tells me that a particular book has to be seen and read to be believed, I not only pay attention, I immediately buy the book.  To my credit, I fired on both of these cylinders and, voilà, I’m now telling you all about A Short History of Flowers.  Many thanks, Sam Preston.

Advolly Richmond, the author of this brilliant work, is a noted plant, garden, and social historian as well as a popular television presenter, regularly appearing on BBC’s Gardener’s World.  Among many other notable accomplishments, she’s also a Fellow of The Linnean Society.  Ms. Richmond’s knowledge of plant history is truly encyclopedic, and her writing is liltingly beautiful.  She combines her vast knowledge of plants and their respective histories with her formidable writing skills to infuse her work with simultaneously edifying and gorgeously enchanting prose.  In truly singular and seemingly effortless fashion, she regales readers with the fascinating (and sometimes quite humorous) histories of sixty different flowering plants from around the world, as well as each one’s most salient characteristics.  Some of the plants are universally known and popular, while others, at least to me, are newly revealed gems from far-away places, enshrouded in exotic mystery.  Ms. Richmond skillfully relates each one’s backstory, and in doing so, provides history lessons that read like magical fables.  She marries what is obviously arduously researched information with ingenious writing to weave factual text that’s every bit as wondrous and entertaining as the purest fantasy.  But again, make no mistake… she’s got the hard facts of each plant’s history and nature down cold.

In A Short History of Flowers, Advolly Richmond, as she relates each flower’s particular history, effortlessly creates a collegiality among the specific individual human player(s) integral to that history, the reader, and the flower itself.  The author exists in the anecdotal telling of each of these histories as what I think can be best described as the first person omniscient narrator.  She’s there, but she’s not there.  She’s the partially psychic host of an intimate cocktail party who offers camaraderie and an insider’s thoughts, speculations, and opinions without ever touching glasses or taking a single swig of the sauce.  She maintains the perspective of time and place and amassed knowledge, but brings each flower’s history to enchanting life with all of the players – historical figure(s), the reader, the flower – heartily participating, as if she herself were there the entire time, too.  And she accomplishes all of this with unobtrusiveness, good cheer, and good humor.  Advolly Richmond is an absolutely wonderful writer.