Amarant

Amarant

The Flora and Fauna of Atlantis By a Lady Botanist 

by Una Woodruff

G.P. Putnam's Sons

New York, 1981

I purchased Amarant from MacLeod's Books on Pender Street.  This book felt like an absolute treasure amongst the human sized piles of second hand books. The colours and details in these pictures are so vivid.  Each picture holds further secrets.  As you look closely at the beautiful flower illustration you might notice that the flower encompasses dozens of tiny insects or other surprises.  It's really an inspiring adult picture book. 

The story itself is set in 1681 following the life of Lady Elizabeth Hurnshaw. A regal woman from England. Elizabeth and her husband always had an affection for botany and when her husband passes away suddenly, Elizabeth and her son set out on an adventure to journey to the Americas. They instead stumble upon an island called Amarantos, or later would be referred to as the lost island of Atlantis.  They spend twenty years studying and documenting the strange flora and fauna of this island.  Later they return to Europe with there illustrations, only to disappear again not long after.  The colourful illustrations within Amarant showcase all the findings from there time on Amarantos.