A fantastic read, charting the history of discovery and dissemination of one of the most spectacular of our garden plants. Jane Brown takes us back to the world of 18th and 19th century plants hunters with ease - that era of explorations and the rewards and dangers that attended the often eccentric individuals who weer attracted to them. From there we move to the great gardens and nurseries and those who lovingly tended the transplanted plants and susequently crossed and popularised them.

As much as this is about the species rhododendron in all its wonderful variety (and even the much-maligned ponticum is given its rightful place), it's also about the people whose lives intersected with it. At times the bewilderding list of crosses and varieties is almost challenged by the relationships and links between those responsible for making this Himalyan scrub plant what it is today.

Jane Brown never lets the pace of her narrative drop and the technical details of plant breeding are kept to minimum and explained where necessary for the casual reader. Although aimed squarely at the rhododendron enthusiasts, it is also a fascinating read for its placing of the subject in the social and political backdrop through the centuries. It also deals etensively with the rhododenron discoveries and history in North America and should also appeal to U.S./Canadian readers. ( )