Peonies

Book Description

“I finally understand what the poets have written. In spring, moved to passion; in autumn only regret.”

For young Peony, betrothed to a suitor she has never met, these lyrics from The Peony Pavilion mirror her own longings. In the garden of the Chen Family Villa, amid the scent of ginger, green tea, and jasmine, a small theatrical troupe is performing scenes from this epic opera, a live spectacle few females have ever seen. Like the heroine in the drama, Peony is the cloistered daughter of a wealthy family, trapped like a good-luck cricket in a bamboo-and-lacquer cage. Though raised to be obedient, Peony has dreams of her own.

Peony’s mother is against her daughter’s attending the production: “Unmarried girls should not be seen in public.” But Peony’s father assures his wife that proprieties will be maintained, and that the women will watch the opera from behind a screen. Yet through its cracks, Peony catches sight of an elegant, handsome man with hair as black as a cave–and is immediately overcome with emotion.

So begins Peony’s unforgettable journey of love and destiny, desire and sorrow–as Lisa See’s haunting new novel, based on actual historical events, takes readers back to seventeenth-century China, after the Manchus seize power and the Ming dynasty is crushed.

Steeped in traditions and ritual, this story brings to life another time and place–even the intricate realm of the afterworld, with its protocols, pathways, and stages of existence, a vividly imagined place where one’s soul is divided into three, ancestors offer guidance, misdeeds are punished, and hungry ghosts wander the earth. Immersed in the richness and magic of the Chinese vision of the afterlife, transcending even death, Peony in Love explores, beautifully, the many manifestations of love. Ultimately, Lisa See’s new novel addresses universal themes: the bonds of friendship, the power of words, and the age-old desire of women to be heard.

Customer Reviews:

Don't bother buying this one.......2007-10-08

This book was awful. It was a labor just to finish it. The story was boring and pointless. Ugh! Probably one of the worst books I read in years. "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" and "Gold Mountain" were great but this one wasn't worth the paper used to print it.

A Touching Story of Love, Redemption, and Letting Go.......2007-10-01

Lisa See's work is just gorgeous! I loved "Snowflower and the Secret Fan," but I also enjoyed "Peony In Love."

This novel revolves around a 16 year old girl (Peony) who is fascinated by the Chinese opera, "The Peony Pavilion." As a special gift, her father presents the opera to Peony, who is to be married in a short amount of time. Against convention, Peony meets a young man by accident and imagines herself in love. Mimicking her herione in the opera, Peony becomes lovesick and obsessed with the opera to the point of refusing to eat.

It would not be a spoiler to state that Peony does die very early in the book, and the majority of story takes place while she is navigating the afterlife. And this is where things become interesting!

I've noticed in previous reviews there seems to be two things that have turned readers off to this book: 1. It isn't "Snowflower and the Secret Fan, and 2. the main character dies and the story is told from the perspective of a ghost. Okay....

1. No, this isn't "Snowflower and the Secret Fan." And personally I'm glad it isn't. While I loved that book, I get weary of one note authors. I like authors who try to stretch themselves and actually try to think up new storylines now and again - even it means taking a risk with their readers.

2. Yes, this book confronts death and the afterlife, and some people don't like to read or deal with that. But, hey, it's something we all gotta go through. And Lisa See brings to the afterlife in this book a deeper understanding of what the Chinese/Buddist thought is, along with simply a good story. That's a tough combination to beat.

So, if you are the type of reade who simply wants a re-heat of "Snowflower and the Secret Fan" then my suggestion would be to re-read that book. And if you are so afraid of any mention of death even if it isn't gruesome, then steer clear of this book. However, if you are looking for something entertaining and fresh, a book that can get you involved in the characters, and where you might actually learn a little something on the side, you might not be disappointed with this one.

Peony in Love.......2007-09-25

Learned a lot about the culture and the traditions of China during that era. Loved how the author whisked you through the pages with illustrative wording but felt saddened and disappointed with the outcome.

Feed my obsessions.......2007-09-24

This is the second Lisa See novel I have read, the first being Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I enjoyed this book even more than the first, as it took me on an adventure into realms that most novels never dare to traverse. As a novelist myself, I must admit that with this book Lisa See has channeled herself as a writer's writer, expressing so many of her literary passions, as well as obsessions. After drinking down this novel over the past week (having not been able to concentrate on little else, as I have been so involved in the story), I read the acknowledgement page and was confirmed by See's abilities to have worked so hard in her research on the novel, for all the characters (all the main characters are REAL!), and all the fascinating cultural and spiritual details she writes about in her depiction of 17trh century China. Three nights this last week I woke to read the novel, rather than sleep. Never before have I read a novel that involves a great love story, an oddesey into the after life with ghosts, and then back again, weaving in a rich tapestry of historical details including Chinese Ancestral Worship, fung shui, and theatrical commentary of a famous opera! There were several times where I set the book down and weeped, blown away either by the sentiments that it created in me, or by the sheer brilliance of her poetry, particurly when describing scenes involving death. I can even say that this book has helped me grow as a person, and as a woman, as there are interesting ways that Peoni learns to understand herself, and deconstruct some of the huge issues that often muddle our karma, such as jealousy, lack of control, and nieve assumptions. I give Lisa See a standing ovation for this impressive piece of literature that I will never forget, and that I cannot pass on to my friends, as I usually do with books I've read and enjoyed, because this copy is staying on my bookshelf for future reads.

Relentlessly grim, tediously tortured.......2007-09-18

First, I have to admit that I could not finish this book (on CD audiobook, I got about halfway through). Although beautifully written with many details that appeal to a historical novel buff like me, I found that the many lovely Chinese-style metaphors could not hold my attention as sections of the story crawled along at a snail's pace.

MAJOR SPOILER ALERT: After connecting with the book's protagonist (or trying to -- her weak and clueless character made that hard), I found it torturous and gruesome to have nothing good happen to her, only one bad thing after another, and then something worse! The author kills her off in the first third of the story and the rest of it takes place in the afterworld, or what passes for one, based upon detailed ancient Chinese beliefs about what happens after one kicks the bucket. Sorry, just not something I want to read about or, if I did want to learn about these customs, I'd rather find them in a work of non-fiction. I read fiction to share experiences with a protagonist and these were not experiences I wanted to share.

Peony (Oriental Novels of Pearl S. Buck Series) (Oriental Novels of Peal S. Buck Series)

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Love and Duty Meet
Beautiful
what a pleasant surprise
Peony
Peony

Peony (Oriental Novels of Pearl S. Buck Series) (Oriental Novels of Peal S. Buck Series)
Pearl S. Buck
Manufacturer: Moyer Bell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1559213388

Book Description

Young Peony is sold into a rich Chinese household as a bondmaid -- an awkward role in which she is more a servant, but less a daughter. As she grows into a lovely, provocative young woman, Peony falls in love with the family's only son. However, tradition forbids them to wed. How she resolves her love for him and her devotion to her adoptive family unfolds in this profound tale, based on true events in China over a century ago.

Customer Reviews:

Love and Duty Meet.......2007-06-11

I loved this story about a servant girl in a wealthy household and her selfless love and service. But, this is not a sugar-sweet story. Pearl Buck is an author who is able to take you to a time and place and make you feel the characters are real people. The twists and turns keep this book interesting This is my favorite of her novels.

Beautiful.......2007-05-15

You just can't go wrong with Pearl S. Buck, she writes so beautifully. The Chinese culture is so interesting and beautiful itself that her books are a joy.

what a pleasant surprise.......2004-07-13

I accidentally found "Peony" while I was trying to find a book that would teach me how to grow peonies. The title, the topic and Buck's reputation helped me decide to read it. I am so glad that I did.

Other reviewers have told of the understated, beautiful use of language. They have spoken of the interesting juxtaposition of the Jewish and Chinese cultures, the gentleness of the story, and Buck's decision not to satisfy our need for a Hollywood ending.

All of these wonderful aspects allowed me to focus on other layers of the novel. The fact that the Jewish community in Kaifeng eventually allowed themselves to forget their own culture was fascinating. Their acceptance of and integration into the Chinese culture is portrayed as inexorable. Most slipped away easily; others faced the loss with overwhelming grief. Buck describes the Chinese characters in this book as being accepting of others while being a bit hedonistic themselves. They choose to seek pleasure and temporal fullfillment while the Jews focus on the horror of oppression, complex ritual and the absolute truth of their history and destiny. In other words, it seemed that the Jews were willing to give up their faith because it was difficult to maintain personally and for the community as a whole.

The final destruction of the core of the Jewish community is, ironically, a product of being a "chosen people." Kao Lien (a business associate of the Ezra family) tells David ben Ezra (Peony's young master) that the Jews, "were hated because they separated themselves from the rest of mankind. They called themselves chosen of God." This is David's first inkling that the world has alternate views of the Jewish people. This is a pivotable moment in the novel. This conversation gives David enough distance from his own culture to allow him to choose a Chinese wife and to move farther from the religion of his mother. Because he chooses not to become a leader of the Jews in his city, the Temple and the culture eventually fall into ruin.

More than most novels, this one is a rare combination of attributes. It is entertaining, informative, thought provoking and good literature. I will certainly read more of Buck's work and urge others to read this novel.

Peony.......2004-05-27

Peony is a book of great detail and drama. You could picture every scene and action that each character takes with the descriptive words written by Pearl S. Buck.
Peony has been a bondmaid in the House of Ezra all her life. She has played, talked, and spent all her time with David, Ezra and Madame Ezra's only son, since her childhood, and has grown to love him. But Peony's love is more than a sisterly love. Due to traditions it is forbidden for Peony and David to wed. Now during the years as a servant by David's side Peony must try to resolve her love for him.
Peony is a realistic fiction book that is full of tragedy and despair that keeps drawing you in with each chapter and page you turn. Based on true events that happened in China over a century ago Peony is a remarkable book that will teach you a lesson about courage and letting go of the one you love most.

Peony.......2004-05-27

Average customer rating:

Recommended for any gardening library.

Peonies (Firefly Gardener's Guide)
Pamela McGeorge
Manufacturer: Firefly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1554071682

Book Description

A richly illustrated guide to growing a most satisfying perennial, the peony.

The dazzling peony with its generous blooms is revered and treasured in North America as it has been for centuries in its country of origin, China. Peonies is a comprehensive guide to selecting and growing the best species and hybrids for every region and garden condition.

In an easy-to-use format, this informative and practical reference book has dozens of color photographs and features chapters on:

Genus Paeonia and the modern hybrids
Ornamental and herbaceous peonies
Tree peonies, the "king of flowers"
Cultivation and propagation techniques
Fertilizers, preferred soil composition, watering and over-wintering
Remedies for pests, diseases and disorders
Landscaping recommendations with peonies
Displaying peonies indoors
The origin and history of peonies.

There is also a valuable appendix of selected varieties and a listing of associations and suppliers.

Customer Reviews:

Recommended for any gardening library........2007-09-03

Russell McGeorge's PEONIES is a bright, beautiful volume for gardeners who want to focus on the flower. History blends with practical gardening tips on how to grow a variety of peonies, from herbaceous varieties to tree peonies, along with details on how they can blend into an existing landscape or garden. Care directions cover everything from planting to dividing, moving, and troubleshooting common problems. Recommended for any gardening library.

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The Gardener's Peony
Martin Page
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0881926949

Book Description

Peonies are virtually unrivalled in a their ability to bring impact and drama to a garden. Once established they flourish for decades, bringing large quantities of flamboyant blooms in a magical range of hues and outstanding, often finely cut foliage. This informative guide highlights the best peonies for gardeners, paying particular attention to the tree peonies, herbaceous hybrids and the latest cultivars of Paeonia lactiflora.

The Chinese have been growing tree peonies for 1600 years but these exotic plants still make a novel addition to the Western garden. A full-size plant bearing dozens of flowers is an awesome sight and the selection here includes the best of the Chinese and Japanese cultivar ranges, the classic hybrids and the sought-after hybrids raised by Arthur Saunders in the 1930s that range in colour from yellow to mahogany-red. Enthusiasts of herbaceous peonies will delight in the selection of Paeonia lactiflora cultivars along with the new complex hybrids between P. lactiflora, P. wittmanniana and P. macrophylla. Over 200 photographs accompany the detailed plant descriptions to provide an invaluable reference source>

Advice on buying peonies along with detailed cultivation requirements for the individual groups will ensure success in the garden, while information on the history of peonies, conservation issues, and morphology complete this authoritative review.

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The Genus Paeonia

The Genus Paeonia
Josef J. Halda , and James W. Waddick
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Shrubs | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Horticulture | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0881926124

Book Description

Twenty-five species of the genus Paeonia are documented in these pages, including 40 subspecies and varieties. Also included herein is the closely related genus Glaucidium. With only two species, it will be of intense interest to peony fanciers. Waddick provides valuable information on growing peony species, with a full account of soil considerations, hardiness, propagation, and diseases and pests. The text is graced with stunning botanical paintings. Sponsored by the Heartland Peony Society, which helped fund its publication, The Genus Paeonia is a rare work of beauty, science, and practical value.

Customer Reviews:

The Genus Paeonia.......2006-07-10

Book was purchased as a gift for a friend. She received it even before it was supposed to be delivered which was great; she loved the book. Thanks.

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poignant examination of Chinese immigrants' struggle
An insight into the life of a Chinese family in Vancouver
A Fantastic Read
A Beautiful Book
Great tale of the pull between old and new culture

The Jade Peony
Wayson Choy
Manufacturer: Other Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1590512162

Amazon.com

The Jade Peony, Wayson Choy's first novel and a RUSA Notable Book, is a genre-bending, memoirlike collection of stories about a family in Vancouver's Chinatown before and during World War II. Three siblings tell the stories of their very different childhoods in a world defined by change, each in their own way wresting autonomy from the strictures of history, family, and poverty. Sister Jook-Liang aspires to be Shirley Temple; adopted Second Brother Jung-Sum, who struggles with his sexuality, finds his way through boxing. Third Brother Sekky, who never feels comfortable with the multitude of Chinese dialects swirling around him, becomes obsessed with war games, and learns a devastating lesson about what war really means when his 17-year-old babysitter dates a Japanese man, with terrible consequences.

One of Choy's most compelling subjects is the fluidity of the extended family. The shadowy woman everyone calls Stepmother is a house servant and concubine who moves into the role of mother, giving birth to two of the siblings but never quite achieving full status. Many chapters focus on the powerful effects friends and neighbors have on the family and the importance of their names and titles. Choy's evocations of life in Depression-era and wartime Vancouver are especially memorable: the bewildered air of Little Tokyo during the first Christmas after Pearl Harbor, a burned-down church that Sekky and his grandmother pick through for bits of the stained-glass windows--a metaphor for the family's task of sorting out what to keep and what to abandon as it moves into the future. Like the jade peony of the title, Choy's storytelling is at once delicate, powerful, and lovely.

Book Description

"Beautifully written….It renders a complex and complete human world, which by the end we have learned to love."—The Boston Book Review

Chinatown, Vancouver, in the late 1930s and '40s provides the backdrop for this poignant first novel, told through the vivid reminiscences of the three younger children of an immigrant Chinese family. The siblings grapple with their individual identities in a changing world, wresting autonomy from the strictures of history, family, and poverty. Sister Jook-Liang dreams of becoming Shirley Temple and escaping the rigid, old ways of China. Adopted Second Brother Jung-Sum, struggling with his sexuality and the trauma of his childhood in China, finds his way through boxing. Third Brother Sekky, who never feels comfortable with the multitude of Chinese dialects swirling around him, becomes obsessed with war games, and learns a devastating lesson about what war really means when his 17-year-old babysitter dates a Japanese man.

Mingling with life in Canada and the horror of war are the magic, ghosts, and family secrets of Poh-Poh, or Grandmother, who is the heart and pillar of the family. Side by side, her three grandchildren survive hardships and heartbreaks with grit and humor. Like the jade peony of the title, Choy's storytelling is at once delicate, powerful, and lovely.

The Jade Peony was selected by the Literary Review of Canada as one of the "100 Most Important Books in Canadian History" in 2005. It was also an American Library Association Notable Book of the Year in 1998, and was winner of the 1995 Trillium Award (shared with Margaret Atwood).

Customer Reviews:

poignant examination of Chinese immigrants' struggle .......2007-05-08

Wayson Choy's beautifully written debut novel, The Jade Peony, is a poignant examination of the Chinese immigrant experience in Vancouver's Chinatown before and during the Second World War, and its consequence on collective ideals, as well as the immigrants' personal identities. It is a representation of a proud, dignified people struggling to regain autonomy from the constraints of history, intolerance, destitution, and cultural heritage.

True to memoir-like fashion, The Jade Peony consists of three individual manuscripts, written from different perspectives. Three siblings in the same household of Chinese immigrants, eking out a meager living in Vancouver's Chinatown, combine their accounts in one volume, to compile a narrative of different acculturation effects within the family and the Chinese community itself. These three very different life experiences and vantage points, bestow an accurate sampling of a new generation desperate to adjust and assimilate the new world culture, often at the sacrifice of the "old ways"...much to their elders' dismay.

Little sister Jook-Liang, who longs to be a performer like Shirley Temple, befriends family friend Wong Bak, a deformed elderly man from the old country. As the two of them form an unlikely friendship, Jook-Liang ambitiously dreams of escaping the unyielding old ways, while grappling with the old Chinese convention of elevating the life of a boy above that of a girl.

Second brother Jung-Sum, taken from a neglectful family in China, is sent to live with his new adoptive family in Vancouver's Chinatown. Besieged by childhood trauma of what he had to endure at the hands of his biological parents, he ultimately feels a sense of belonging amongst his new family, and finds his niche in boxing.

Third Brother Sekky, often plagued with illness (and as a result, coddled by Poh-Poh), never quite comes to terms with the plethora of complex Chinese dialects he is forced to study. Overwhelmed, he often retreats into himself, inducing visions of Poh-Poh after she is gone, and filling the void with an obsession for war games. When a forbidden relationship flourishes between Sekky's Chinese babysitter and a Japanese boy, the lines between friend and foe are blurred by fear of frightful events happening a world away, with devastating consequences.

At the heart of each account is Poh-Poh (respectfully known as the "Old One", or Grandmother). the mainstay and matriarch of the family, who passes down vivid reminiscences of her life experiences to the children. Not unlike the jade peony, which she bestows to them as an inheritance, Poh-Poh also confers them a more valuable inheritance -- their cultural heritage as a people, and the necessity and importance of holding on to a measure of "old way" attitude.

Though discrimination and poverty predominated the early immigrants' experience, Choy tempers his story with a caustic wit and a gritty humor that brings a certain hope to the often-heartrending chronicle. Given its candor and lucid voice on an important topic, it is no surprise that The Jade Peony has gained many accolades and awards, and has won its way to many readers' hearts.

An insight into the life of a Chinese family in Vancouver.......2005-05-30

Wayson Choy's "The Jade Peony," deals with the lives of three sibblings living in Chinatown, Vancouver, during the depression period through to World War II. Jook Liang, the only girl in the family had to deal with the fact that in a typical Chinese family, the sons were considered much more important than girls, who were deemed "useless." Jung Sum, the adopted middle son, was considered "weak" and was also struggling with his sexual attraction towards members of his own gender. Lastly, Sekky, was the youngest son as well as the sickest, and hence, he received the most attention, particularly from his grandmother. All three had to struggle with their parents who tried their best to retain their "Chinese ways," as well as dealing with the peer pressure at schools and trying to conform to the rest of the population.

This was quite an interesting novel that provided a clear picture of life in the 30s as well as 40s in Chinatown, Vancouver. I thought it was especially fascinating when the author dealt with the last sibbling as we were able to see life during World War II through the eyes of an eight year-old; the anti-Japanese sentiments as well as the patriotism of the overseas Chinese. This is highly recommended for those who would like to know more about Chinese traditions and cultures as well as life in Chinatown Vancouver during the 30s and 40s.

A Fantastic Read.......2005-03-18

The Jade Peony is a poignant tale about three Chinese children growing up in Vancouver's Chinatown during world war 2.
Wayson Choy's writing is beautiful, searing, and eloquent. This book will keep you hooked. No wonder it won the Trillium Award.

I had the honor of meeting Wayson Choy. He is a delightful person, and his talent definitely shines through in his works.

Highly recommended to anyone!

A Beautiful Book.......2005-01-30

If you ever visit Vancouver, read this book while you are there. You can picture the family going to the docks, looking at the north shore mountains. And while many of the old homes are gone, a vibrant Chinatown and the streets he mentions are still there. He makes the book come alive. Perhaps you will even see Grandmama's shadow!

Great tale of the pull between old and new culture.......2005-01-12

I was initially drawn to read The Jade Peony by a review in the National Post about Watson Choy's new novel, All That Matters. I have always been fascinated with literature about Asia and Asian culture (such as Life and Death in Shanghai and Wild Swans ) and novels about Asian-Canadian life, such as Denise Chong's Concubine's Children have held a particular appeal to me. Hence my interest in this book.

I found The Jade Peony enjoyable for two reasons. First, it is a tale of Vancouver's Chinatown during the Second World War. It gave me a glimpse into what life would have been like in this city and in Canada during that time. In particular, the forbidden relationship between a teenage Chinese girl and a Japanese boy really demonstrates the cultural struggle faced by Canadians during the war. The lines between friend and foe are confused by fear of dreadful events far away.

Second, it carefully and successfully expresses the delicate dance that immigrants and their children go through when they move to Canada: how to retain the old way and still embrace the new life. In The Jade Peony, we see these first-generation Chinese-Canadians want to run from the old culture and the older generation vainly grasping to keep them aware. It is hard to decide who should win out, because to change is required for survival but so much is dying out. (I suppose it is what every parent and grandparent goes through as they see their children grow up and away.)

If you have ever lived in or near Vancouver, read this book. If you have ever experienced the duality felt by anyone who immigrates to a new country or who is born of immigrant parents, read this book. If you have experienced or seen neither of these things, read this book to get a good sense of what you have missed.

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Peonies - a love affair

Peonies
Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Flowers | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Perennials | Flowers | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Peonies Peonies

The Gardener's Peony

Peonies (Firefly Gardener's Guide)

Lilacs for the Garden

An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Clematis

ASIN: 0810943549

Amazon.com

Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall's Peonies is a ravishing book--the sort of book that you covet from the moment you see it--but it isn't just lovely to look at, it is also a wonderful read. It tells the long and fascinating history of this most beautiful of flowers, tracing its origins in the wild to its cultivation in the Imperial gardens of China and Japan and its journey to the West. The characters encountered along the way include an empress who arranged for the planting of many thousands of tree peonies, yet murdered her baby daughter and in her 70s took two brothers half her age as lovers, and a French missionary who spent most of his life in China collecting over 1,500 species of peony, most of which were sent back to France. As befits its subject, the book is lavishly illustrated with paintings and photographs that are both informative and appealing.

But this is not just a wonderful story well told. It is also a serious work of reference giving comprehensive information on peony varieties, how to grow them, where to find them, and where to see them. It's written with the international reader in mind, so references include information relevant to the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand as well as Great Britain and Europe. --Stephanie Donaldson

Customer Reviews:

Peonies - a love affair.......2000-05-10

If you are a peony lover, you will treasure this book. Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall not only knows her peonies and traces their fascinating history through the imperial courts of China and Japan, but she interweaves this with a history of how peonies have been used in paintings and porcelain. The beautiful pictures included not only show the various peony cultivars, but show the peony as it is used in Asian porcelains, paintings and European paintings. This book and its photographs are so lovely, that I expected to pay much more for it. It's a bargain, if you are a peony lover. Al Rogers "Peonies" is a bit more explicit about growing and cultivation, but this book compliments his, because of the romance it brings to the peony. It is also practical, listing the cultivars, showing many pictures, and recommending the more successful cultivars. If you love peonies and want to know more about their place in history, I heartily recommend Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall's "Peonies."

The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies (Gardener's Guide to Growing Series)

Average customer rating:

Very concise and informative.
A must for any gardening collection

The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies (Gardener's Guide to Growing Series)
Martin Page
Manufacturer: Timber Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0881925357

Book Description

A complete practical guide to growing and collecting these magnificent flowering plants and using them to best effect in the garden. Illustrated with over 75 color photographs for aid in identification and to show the range of peonies available.

Customer Reviews:

Very concise and informative........1999-10-28

Page explains Peonies from history to cultivation in a very short and simple manner. An excellant book for the beginner to start a peony garden.

A must for any gardening collection.......1999-09-23

A professional botanist and photographer, Page has selected more than 600 species for inclusion in this book. Chapter topics include history, cultivation, and the use of peonies in the garden. The peony species are presented alphabetically by their botanical names. Each entry includes geographic origin (most include the year introduced), physical description, season of bloom, and growing height. Chapters on tree peonies and hybrids are similarly arranged. The final chapter on where to see peonies lists gardens in the UK, China, France, and North America as well as peony societies from around the world. Appendices include a glossary and a thorough list of where to buy the plants. This is a lovely book, interspersed with beautiful color photographs of peonies in actual garden settings. It is thoughtfully arranged and easy to use and should answer any gardener's questions.

The Peony Pavilion (Library of Chinese Classics: Chinese-English edition: 2 Volumes)

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The Peony Pavilion (Library of Chinese Classics: Chinese-English edition: 2 Volumes)
Tang Xianzu
Manufacturer: Foreign Languages Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
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ASIN: 7543825341

Book Description

The Peony Pavilion is a representative work by the outstanding Chinese dramatist Tang Xianzu of the 16th century. The work, through the romantic love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei, reflects the persistent aspiration for ftee love and exposes the evil of the feudal ethics. With its complicated plot and magnificent structure, The Peony Pavilion in 55 scenes is particularly known for its excellent character portrayals. Its 160 odd characters provide a panoramic picture of social life in the Ming Dynasty. The work is renowned for its beautiful verses and has much influence on the development of drama in China in later days. The English translation of this version is the first versified version of The Peony Pavilion.

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