Daffodil

About this book

A beautifully illustrated visually lush and intriguing book about the worlds most popular and most powerful flower. The daffodil is the beautiful first flower of spring the inspiration of poets a treasure-trove to scientists and a symbol of everything from unrequited love rebirth eternal life and misfortune. Over centuries the daffodil has been so many things to so many people: it was called Narcissus by the Greeks and prized by the Romans as guarantee of passage to the Underworld; it was used by medieval Arabs and ancient Chinese for its medicinal properties and it has inspired poets lovers artists and scientists down the ages. But in telling the story of the daffodil what award-winning best-selling writer Helen ONeill is really telling is the story of humanity. Its a narrative of progress from superstition and myth taking in politics greed religion science chance redemption and love. But appropriately enough for a flower that is now used on a worldwide basis to raise funds for cancer research it is above all a story of hope. Moving fascinating eloquent and also beautiful. ONeill manages to make a biography of a flower feel like something of a detective novel love story historical drama and horticultural research paper rolled into one Sydney Morning Herald