The Language of Flowers

Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Sep 2011 · Picador Australia

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"Instantly entrancing" Elle

I used the same flowers again and again: a bouquet of marigold, grief; a bucket of thistle, misanthropy; a pinch of dried basil; hatred. Only occasionally did my communication vary.

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey what words could not, from declarations of admiration to confessions of betrayal.

For Victoria Jones, alone after a childhood in foster care, it is her way of expressing a legacy of grief and guilt. Believing she is damaged beyond hope, she trusts nobody, connecting with the world only through message-laden bouquets.

But when a mysterious man at the flower market responds in kind, Victoria is caught between fascination and fear, and must decide whether she can open herself to the possibilities of happiness... and forgiveness.
Heartbreaking and uplifting, The Language of Flowers is a redemptive story about the meaning of flowers, the meaning of family, and the meaning of love.

PRAISE FOR THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

"Compelling . . . immensely engaging . . . unabashedly romantic . . . an emotional arc of almost unbearable poignance." The Boston Globe

"[An] original and brilliant first novel . . . I would like to hand Vanessa Diffenbaugh a bouquet of bouvardia (enthusiasm), gladiolus (you pierce my heart) and lisianthus (appreciation). . . And there is one more sprig I should add to her bouquet: a single pink carnation (I will never forget you)." Brigitte Weeks, The Washington Post

"A captivating novel in which a single sprig of rosemary speaks louder than words . . . 'The Language of Flowers' deftly weaves the sweetness of newfound love with the heartache of past mistakes . . . [It] will certainly change how you choose your next bouquet." Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Fascinating . . . Diffenbaugh clearly knows both the human heart and her plants, and she keeps us rooting for the damaged Victoria." The Oprah Magazine (Book of the Week)

"Diffenbaugh effortlessly spins this enchanting tale, making even her prickly protagonist impossible not to love." Entertainment Weekly

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Vanessa Diffenbaugh was born and raised in California. She has degrees in Creative Writing and Art Education from Stanford University. She is an activist and has worked in non-profits with "at risk" youth, including homeless and foster youth. She and her husband have three children, Graciela, Miles, and Tre'von and live in Cambridge, Massachusetts.