Pine

Pine

by Laura Mason
Pine

Pine

by Laura Mason

Hardcover

$27.00 
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Overview

Now in paperback, an enduring survey of the venerable trees.

Since the pine tree is able to sprout after forest fires, on mountainsides, and in semi-desert climes, it is no surprise that the ever-resilient tree signifies longevity, wisdom, and immortality. From the pine cone staffs carried by the worshippers of Bacchus in the classical world to their role in the movement to establish national parks in nineteenth-century North America, pine trees and their symbolism run deep in cultures around the globe. In Pine, Laura Mason explores the many ways pines have inspired and been used by people throughout history.
 
Mason examines how the somber, brooding atmosphere of pine woods, the complex forms of pine cones, and the coniform shape of the trees themselves have aroused the creativity of artists, writers, filmmakers, and photographers. She also considers the many ways we use the tree—its resin once provided adhesives, waterproofing, and medicines, and its wood continues to be incorporated into buildings, furniture, and the pulp used to make paper, while its cones provide pine nuts and other food for animals and humans. Filled with one hundred illustrations, Pine provides a fascinating survey of these rugged, aromatic trees that are found the world over.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781780231013
Publisher: Reaktion Books, Limited
Publication date: 08/15/2013
Series: Botanical
Pages: 224
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Laura Mason is a writer who has published widely on food history and culture. She lives in Yorkshire, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1 The Natural History of Pine Trees

2 Pine Trees in Myth and Reality

3 Pitch, Turpentine and Rosin

4 Pine for Timber and Torches

5 Pine for Food

6 Mythic Pine, Artist’s Pine

7 The Sound of the Wind in the Branches

Timeline

References

Further Reading

Associations and Websites

Acknowledgements

Photo Acknowledgements

Index

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