The Tulip Anthology

With more than 170 illustrations, this photographic anthology is a glorious tribute to one of the most storied and beloved spring flowers. Van Dongen's color and black-and-white photographs dominate. While the selection might not satisfy the reader who desires a methodical, botanical survey, the photographs will delight those looking for a sensuous immersion in the subtle colors, seductive textures, and varied forms of the flower. Many of the photographs are thoughtfully paired with the paintings, textiles, metalwork, ceramics, prose, and verse that they inspired. The eclectic range of art testifies to the flower's iconic status and global appeal. The large format (11-in.×14-in.) and high-production values serve the illustrations well. A brief history of tulips from their origins in central Asia and Turkey and early commercial cultivation through 17th-century tulip speculation and 20th-century DNA mapping runs throughout. In her introduction, Pavord, author of the bestselling Tulip, takes readers from the remote birthplace of tulips to the center of the ultracompetitive Dutch flower exchange. A luxurious gift for flower lovers. (Nov.)