Lily
By: Marcia Reiss
Series: Reaktion's botanical series; Botanical (Reaktion Books (Firm))
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Published: 2013
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 224
ISBN-13: 9781780230931
Subjects: Lilies; History; Folklore; Mythology; Lilies in art; Plants and civilization
Description: "The lily is a flower of contradictions: it represents both life and death, appearing at weddings as well as funerals. In their pure white form, lilies are a symbol of innocence, chastity and purity of heart, but the highly fragrant and intensely coloured lilies symbolize passion. In Lily, Marcia Reiss explores these paradoxes, tracing the flower's cultural significance in art, literature, religion and popular culture throughout history."--Publisher website.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction : a flower with multiple personalities; title: A lily by any other name; title: From the ice age to the modern age : the journey of the true lily; title: A lily in every garden; title: Picturing the lily; title: Milk, blood and sex : the mythology of the lily; title: As pure as a lily; title: The sexiest flower; title: Matters of life and death; title: Always entertaining; title: A lily a day keeps the doctor away; title: Lilies on your plate; title: Epilogue : a journey in Shushan.