The Rev. Henry Nicholson Ellacombe embarks on a meticulous exploration of the plant world that inspired the greatest writer in history. While refusing to claim that Shakespeare was a professional botanist or a dedicated gardener, the author demonstrates how the poet observed nature with open eyes and a rare sensitivity to its inner meaning. Through comprehensive cataloging, every single tree, shrub, flower, and herb named in the plays and poems is examined in alphabetical order, from Aconite to Yew.
The volume opens with an introductory overview establishing Shakespeare as a thoroughly English writer whose descriptions smell of Warwickshire hedgerows rather than Italian classics or dusty libraries. Ellacombe then proceeds plant by plant, quoting every relevant passage in full before adding historical context, botanical identification, and practical lore. He draws upon contemporary writers such as Gerard, Parkinson, and Spenser to provide a vivid picture of Elizabethan gardening and folk-belief.
Particular attention is paid to the symbolic resonance of flowers in Shakespeare's works, tracing how plants like the Rose, Violet, Primrose, and Cowslip reflect human passions and rustic customs. The author also investigates obscure references, such as the mysterious 'Hebenon' in Hamlet and the various medicinal herbs cultivated in Tudor gardens. He illuminates the practical uses of plants in medicine, cookery, and household crafts during the late sixteenth century.
The work combines a deep enthusiasm for horticulture with patient literary scholarship, creating a bridge between the study and the summer lawn. Ellacombe successfully proves that Shakespeare's knowledge was the fruit of an open mind and a joyful communion with the English countryside. The book concludes with helpful appendices on plant names and the seasonal background of the plays, leaving the reader with a renewed appreciation for the natural world that Shakespeare immortalized.
