The Herbalist's Bible: John Parkinson's Lost Classic Rediscovered - Hardcover

Julie Bruton-Seal

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1906122512 ISBN 13: 9781906122515

Publisher: Merlin Unwin Books, 2014

Synopsis

Herbalist to King Charles I, John Parkinson (1567-1650) was a master apothecary, herbalist and gardener. Famous in his own lifetime for his influential books, his magnus opus was published in 1640, his Theatrum Botanicum, which ran to 1,788 large pages. The sheer scope and size was perhaps to prove the book s downfall because, while it was much revered and indeed plagiarised, it was never reprinted and now has the status of an extremely valuable rare book. Parkinson was writing at a time when Western herbalism was at its zenith and his skills as a plantsman (from his grounds in Covent Garden) combined perfectly with his passion for science, observation and historical scholarship. In this editor s selection, Julie and Matthew have printed Parkinson s clear and lively description of a chosen plant s vertues or healing properties, adding their own modern commentary and a contemporary take on his almost-forgotten herbal recipes. Busy herbalists and keen amateurs will welcome this restoration and sensible highlighting of Parkinson s huge lost classic.

About this title

About the Author:

Julie Bruton-Seal is a practising medical herbalist, writer and photographer. She trained as a herbalist in the UK and USA and is a Council Member of the Association of Master Herbalists. Matthew Seal is an editor and writer. They are authors of the best-selling Hedgerow Medicine, Kitchen Medicine and Make Your Own Aphrodisiacs.

About this edition

• Publisher: Merlin Unwin Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1906122512
• ISBN 13: 9781906122515
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224