Gerard's Herbal by Edmund Gosse
The story revolves around Gerard, a young boy who lives with his parents in a small cottage surrounded by a beautiful garden filled with various herbs and flowers. Gerard's father is an herbalist who uses the plants to create medicines. The family's life is peaceful until Gerard's mother dies, leaving him and his father alone. As time passes, Gerard's father becomes increasingly obsessed with finding the "Elixir of Life," a mythical potion that can cure any ailment. His obsession leads to neglect of Gerard and the garden, causing their lives to deteriorate.
By Edmund Gosse · First published 1597 · Genre: Non-fiction, Scientific literature, Historical · 2,208 words
First lines
THE HERBALL _or General Historie of Plantes. Gathered by John Gerarde, of London, Master in Chirurgerie. Very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Johnson, citizen and apothecarye of London. London, Printed by Adam Islip, Joice Norton, and Richard Whitakers. Anno_ 1633.
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Gerard's Herbal is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edmund Gosse, dated 1597 CE.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edmund Gosse
- Date: 1597 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Non-fiction, Scientific literature, Historical, Reference
- Length: 2,208 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Genres
- Non-fiction — The work is a detailed account of various plants, their characteristics, and their uses, based on real-life observations and experiences.
- Scientific literature — The work discusses the science of botany, including the classification, characteristics, and medicinal uses of plants.
- Historical — The work provides historical context and anecdotes related to the study and use of plants.
- Reference — The work serves as a comprehensive guide to plants, their characteristics, and their uses, making it a valuable reference material.
Tags
Botany · Herbalism · Medicinal Plants · Folk Medicine · Traditional Remedies · Nature Writing · Gardening · Horticulture · Plant Identification · Medieval History · Renaissance Era · European Folklore