[Rose is] a clearly-written, information-packed review of the historical, religious, cultural and artistic significance of the world's favourite flower - John Hoyland

"Like all the best books, [Horwood's] treatment of the great sweep of rose-related history leads the reader to make unexpected comparisons... Rose is the latest in a series of excellent plant biographies."

It is no surprise that the rose is the world's favourite flower and in her new book [] social historian Catherine Horwood dances us through every aspect of its botanical, cultural and literary significance, its history, royal connections and horticultural development. It offers many interesting nuggets, too - not least that we should all add the European Rose Garden in Sangerhausen, German, to our bucket list, as it has 8,600 varieties. There's an enticing recipe for rose vodka, too.

"[It's] really all you really need to know about Rose ... and is fully deserving of being read!" 

[Rose] is a gem of a book, lavishly illustrated, which is so imbued with this most sensuous of flowers that you can almost smell its scent when turning the pages - Widget Finn

"Beautifully written, and riveting... [it] would be as deserving of a place in a history section of a library as it would be next to yet another rose tome in the gardening section."