The Story of the Apple

by Barrie Edward Juniper, David J. Mabberley

The Story of the Apple reveals the solution to a long-standing puzzle. Where did the apple come from, and why is the familiar large, sweet, cultivated apple so different from all other wild apple species with their bitter, cherry-sized fruits? This book will fascinate gardeners who wish to know more about the origin and natural history of the plants that they grow in their yards or orchards, researchers and students in botany and horticulture who want the evidence from DNA, geology, anthropology, archaeology, zoology, and Classical history, and anyone with an interest in diet, well-being, and the benevolent effects of plants on the emergence of humankind.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

219 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

In their quest to tell readers the story of the apple, Juniper and Mabberley range wide. The reader learns the biology of this tasty fruit, techniques of cider-making, the history of grafting ... the geology of central Asia, how horses evolved, when Celtic tribes reached different areas of Europe, how Chinese apple flour was made. Delightful stories season the text. Other parts can be difficult for the non-specialist reader, especially the opaque accounts of genetic analyses of apples' evolutionary origins. On balance, it's a good read, leaving the reader more knowledgeable not just about apples but also many of the other people, places, and things apples have touched on their globe-spanning journeys.

[Rosemary]

Far more academic than I was expecting, and I skimmed most of it, so I won't rate it.

I loved the reproduction of a mosaic showing Romans grafting, and there are some pretty botanical illustrations by Rosemary Wise. I also enjoyed the quotes about apple growing from medieval literature.

My favourite part is on p95: "Every roadside fruit stall in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan displays a cornucopia of apples in season. But enquiries as to the name of the cultivar will be met with confusion and the explanation that any particularly choice apple comes from somewhere up an adjacent valley. Why be concerned with time-wasting propagation methods when diversity prevails, and when a favoured apple tree dies there are so many to take its place? The losers in this race for genetic superiority are converted to firewood".

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb work of horticultural history including extensive recaps of archaeobotany.