Lily
Fiona Stafford explores our contradictory relationship with the lily, including the flower's symbolising crucifixion and swords as well as peace and virginity.
A new series of essays written and presented by experienced essayist, Fiona Stafford, Professor of Literature at Somerville College, Oxford. Following her three popular essay series The Meaning of Trees for 主播大秀 Radio 3, Fiona explores the symbolism, importance, topicality and surprises of five of the UK's most common flowers. Across the series of essays, our ambiguous relationship with some of our best known and loved flowers is explored.
Lilies have contradictorily represented death and purity, peace and weaponry, salvation and crucifixion. Nowadays there are thousands of varieties of lilies, and global dominance in this internationally lucrative industry has over the centuries moved from Japan to the USA. Many flowers we call lilies are not in fact lilies at all, including waterlilies and also lily of the valley, which is more closely related to asparagus. Our most popular lilies in the UK are a fatal danger to cats from their pollen.
Producer - Turan Ali
A Bona Broadcasting production for 主播大秀 Radio 3.
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- Tue 13 Sep 2016 22:45主播大秀 Radio 3
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