This remarkable book reveals the history of the rose through the tale of 40 of the most popular and interesting species and hybrids. Arranged chronologically in the order in which a particular rose arrived in European gardens, the book also covers the history of the layout of rose gardens, discusses the various myths that have grown up about the history and introduction of roses and the confusion over the identity of roses in the Renaissance and looks at the role that roses play in the "language of flowers".