The complete book of herbs and spices

by Claire Loewenfeld, Philippa Back

Book by Loewenfeld, Claire, Back, Philippa

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, Reference

315 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Judith Johnson]

We bought this book as one of a bundle from Book Club Associates in the 1970s, and I've dipped into it over the years but only just now read it from cover to cover. Lots of fascinating information- for instance that Claire Loewenfeld was the prime mover in rosehips being used in the Second World War in Britain to make a syrup for growing children, when fruit from overseas became largely unavailable.

I knew that the Romans imported ground elder (a cry goes up from gardeners everywhere: "The blaggards!") but not that they had brought over 200 plants to the British Isles.

There are so many titbits of interest here - who knew, for example, that woodruff (Waldmeister in German) has ' a wonderful effect of lifting the spirits and introducing a carefree atmosphere to any gathering'. I will certainly refer to it now when I find 'weeds' in my garden, and will think twice about pulling out things like dandelions and mullein.

Ephemera: Tucked into my copy I find two pages of television script from my husband's jobs in the 1980s, a dried red rose bud, and a few articles on Mixed Herbs cut out from issues of Here's Health 1988. Love ephemera (aka clutter!).

[Iona Stewart]

This is an exceptionally beautiful book with lovely illustrations of all the various herbs. Chapter titles are: A modern herbal, Cooking with herbs and spices, Household herbs and spices, Cosmetic herbs and, finally, Herbs for health.

But the book was not quite what I had envisaged, in fact not at all, the main interest I have in herbs being for health purposes. And in the section on herbs for health the author states that since partaking of herbal medicine can be dangerous, "the recipes that follow are all of a simple and domestic nature, being mild remedies for sore throats,'flu, bowel troubles, indigestion and so on". These are not areas that I need help with, my ailments being of a more serious nature.

I was thus somewhat disappointed with this book and can only give it 2 stars, this judgement being completely subjective of course. On the positive side, I can state that the book contains a good recipe for an antiseptic garlic dressing, suggestions for soothing the sites of insect bites together with instructions for dealing with warts, corns and chilblains. In fact the whole section on herbs for health is quite useful and instructive, just not so interesting to me personally.

This may be a valuable book for those primarily interested in the horticultural aspect of herbs and spices and how to identify these plants. The section on cooking with herbs and spices may also be interesting to many.

[Saleris]

it's a nice book. Not comprehensive, but it's difficult for any herbal book to be comprehensive. Not sorry I bought it.

[Steve Clark]

David & Charles PLC (1975)