The new book of apples /

This guide to all things related to the apple will surely be a revelation to those who view it in terms of red, yellow, or green. The book certainly is "definitive," as Morgan (who holds several positions in the Royal Horticultural Society) and Richards (a journalist interested in the history of gardens and cooking) offer readers a remarkable amount of information. Whether in the Bible or the archaeological record, one finds evidence that the apple has been with us from the beginning (remains dated to 6500 B.C.E. have been found at Jericho and Catal Huyuk). The authors trace the history of the apple through a number of early civilizations, from the tree's use as the spoils of war, to the preservation of many varieties in monasteries with the fall of Rome, to the use of apples as a valuable resource in both the Old and the New Worlds. More than a third of the text is devoted to a directory of 2000-plus varieties, with information on origin, shape, habitat, and flavor. Throughout, Dowle's beautiful illustrations evoke those by Victorian-era naturalists. This revised edition will please readers with an extensive interest in cultivation, and it is essential for comprehensive public and academic library reference and gardening collections.-Jonathan Hershey, Akron-Summit Cty. P.L, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.