'De camelia.  Een "aristocratische roos"'

The authors have put together a masterful book about the camellias of Belgium.  This small country in northwest Europe was one of the most important camellia-growing countries in the world in the 19th Century, and lately has seen a resurgence in camellia enthusiasm.  

The book -- lavishly illustrated -- reflects Luc Dhaeze's passionate and meticulous scholarship in the subjects covered.  There are sections on the origin and history of camellias, particularly in Europe; camellias in art; and the camellias of the fabulous glasshouses of Laken, part of the palace grounds of the Belgian royal family.  

The particular value of the book, though, is its exhaustive coverage of Belgian camellias.  Breeders of the multitude of camellias that appeared on the market for Belgian gardens in the 19th Century are the subject of one section of the book.  Another includes a description of many of those classic old camellias, illustrated with both paintings from books of the period and modern photographs where possible.

The book was launched in conjunction with the CAMELLIA EXPOSITION of Belgian Cultivars, a major exhibition on camellias in Gent, Belgium, that ran from March through May in 2008, at the Museum of Industrial Archaeology and Textiles (MIAT), which published the book.

 It is written in Dutch, but this is not that difficult a problem for camellia enthusiasts.  Additionally, Luc Dhaeze has prepared text translations in English, French, and German, and flower descriptions in English and French.  These are incorporated into one CD, which will be sent out separately at no charge upon confirmation of purchase to the web editor, pat.short "at" camellia-ics.org.

Title: "Camelia's:  De camelia. Een 'aristocratische roos'"

Authors: Luc Dhaeze-Van Ryssel and René De Herdt
Publisher:  The Museum of Industrial Archaeology and Textiles (MIAT), Minnemeers 9, 9000 Gent, Belgium; soft cover; 208 pages; March 2008. Reference Number D/2008/3938/1.

Available from MIAT, price 17 euros plus postage (as examples, 8.50 euros to countries in the European Union; 14.50 euros to Japan) Contact MIAT at publiekswerking.miat "at" gent.be for details on making payment.