Botanical Shakespeare

In this stunning compilation, Shakespeare expert Gerit Quealy has teamed up with notable Japanese artist Sumie Hasegawa-Collins to create the most comprehensive collection of all the flowers, fruits, herbs, trees, seeds, and grasses mentioned in Shakespeare’s works, each paired with an exquisite illustration and corresponding quote.

Quealy supplements the dazzling main text with rich background information, explaining Shakespeare’s relationship to plants, describing his deep knowledge of botany—as well as colloquialisms—and his unmatched skill for creating metaphorical connections. An accompanying dictionary elaborates on each plant, providing facts, historical context, and anecdotes.