Roses at the Cape of Good Hope Fagan, Gwen (author) and Gabriel Fagan (photographer)

Signed by the Author Gwen Fagan on the title page.

Roses at the Cape of Good Hope Fagan, Gwen (author) and Gabriel Fagan (photographer)

Hardcover, ISBN 9780620110327
Publisher: Breestraat-Publikasies, 1988

Used – Near Fine. This book is in mint condition. The cover have some very limited signs of wear and the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. The book is protected with a Cellophane cover. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied.

This is one of the finest books to have been produced in South Africa in the past twenty-five years. As well as the informed text and marvellous photography, the design, by Willem Jordaan, the reproduction, by Hirt and Carter, and the printing and binding, by National Book Printers, are all superb.

This is one of the most beautiful books of its kind with some 200 superb photos and detailed botanical descriptions. It also tells the story of the author's research into historical roses and how she influenced wine farms and gardeners to plant and preserve them. Her style is charming and I read the book with great interest. Gwen Fagan, a former medical doctor is well known for her famous rose gardens and for her work dedicated to the conservation of South Africa's historic gardens and architecture (together with her husband, the architect Gabriël Fagan). She also wrote a highly amusing biography of her childhood, Nauti se Gwendoline (in Afrikaans).
By the way "Ludwigs Roses" Nurseries named one of their roses in her honour, Gwen Fagan.