Forget texting—in the 1800s, if you wanted to send a secret message, you sent a bouquet. Henrietta Dumont's The Language of Flowers is your guide to that lost world. It's not a novel, but a beautiful artifact: a detailed list of flowers and their assigned meanings, paired with poetry and advice on how to assemble a proper 'floral offering.'

Why You Should Read It

This book is a direct line to the past. Reading it, you get a real sense of the social rules and romantic hopes of the Victorian era. A gift of red chrysanthemums meant 'I love you,' while striped carnations signaled a polite 'I cannot be with you.' It’s fun to imagine the dramas unfolding through these botanical codes. Dumont writes with genuine warmth, treating flowers not just as pretty objects, but as essential tools for the heart.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for history lovers, gardeners, and anyone who enjoys holding a piece of the past in their hands. It's a quiet, thoughtful book best enjoyed in small doses—maybe look up your birth month flower or design a symbolic bouquet for a friend. It won't give you a thrilling plot, but it will give you a beautiful new way to see both history and your own garden.