The Botanist's Library

Uncover a vast treasure trove of botanical knowledge in The Botanist’s Library: The Most Important Botanical Books in History, a superbly illustrated collection of over 300 seminal books and illustrations from throughout history.

From the earliest manuscripts penned by visionary naturalists to the modern tomes that continue to shape our understanding of the plant kingdom, this hardback book is a testament to the tireless dedication of the world's greatest botanists. If you've ever wanted to know more about botany, then this book is the perfect place to start.

Each chapter delves into the pages of a seminal work, unveiling the insights, controversies, and stories behind the books that have shaped our understanding of the plant world. This book appeals to seasoned botanists, budding enthusiasts, or simply someone with an insatiable curiosity about the natural world.

The Botanist's Library compiles the most historically significant books covering the science of botany and its impact on civilization. This beautifully illustrated guide chronicles the evolution of botany through pivotal books and manuscripts, reflecting shifts in attitudes, approaches, knowledge and resources through the centuries.

Starting with ancient botanical knowledge from Egypt, India, Greece, and China, the impact of Islamic science, and the Renaissance revival in Europe, it goes on to examine the illustrated herbals and the impact of the printing press, Carl Linnaeus's system of classification, the 'golden age' of botany in the 18th and 19th Centuries and its subsequent transition to the cutting-edge plant science used in modern botanical education today.

This is the story of how the science of botany has responded to, and contributed to, colonialism and trade, evolutionary and genetic theory, taxonomy and global ecology. The beautiful and important books that are collected in The Botanist's Library document humankind's innate fascination with the wonders of the plant world.

Carolyn Fry is a journalist and author specialising in science, environment and botanical exploration. She has written/co-authored eleven books and has contributed news stories and articles to multiple magazines and national newspapers. 

Emma Wayland is a journalist, writer and editor. She was the Independent on Sunday's gardening columnist for ten years, and for the last fifteen years she has been part of the team of tour guides at Kew interpreting the gardens for visitors.