Yew

Botanical

by Fred Hageneder

The Yew is one of the most fascinating and versatile life forms on Earth, botanically rich and intriguing and culturally almost without comparison. This volume covers all aspects of the botany as well as the cultural history and mythology of the genus Taxus.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2007

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always had a thing about Yew trees. They are such a long-lived tree and the places that they are located often show that they have had some significance to people over the past two millennia or maybe even longer. They are a strange tree too, evergreen, but not conifers, almost every part of them is poisonous to mammals, and yet they can save lives.

This book all about them is a mix of science, folklore and cultural history of this unique species of tree. Each chapter covers one element of the tree and the subjects vary from Ancient Yew to Political Yew, Metaphysical Yew to Social Yew. It is crammed full of facts about these trees and pretty much all of them are fascinating.

I thought that this was engrossing and really well-written. Hageneder has researched the subject thoroughly and more importantly, has got the right balance between imparting knowledge and the narrative story of the Yew. If you have even the slightest interest in this species then I can highly recommend it.

[Mila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew there was so much to learn about the yew? Who knew, ha ha. This was a lovely book. Of course I give it 5 stars for the subject matter but I also enjoy the way the information is presented, for e.g.: Botanical Yew, Ancient Yew, Metaphysical Yew, Sacred Yew. Great photographs too! Soon after my parents bought a new house, I remember my Dad taking me on a tour of the yard. I was 8-years-old at the time. I remember him commenting about the two small columnar yew trees that were on either side of the living room window. He said they were planted in graveyards in Europe. By the tone of his voice, I could tell that he didn't like them. I realize now that he thought of the yew as "the tree of death" (and he was not alone in this regard). He did cut down and plant numerous trees but he left those yews alone to their own devices. I do remember them not growing much, and this book verifies that yews are very slow growing. All this time I thought they weren't thriving due to neglect (sorry Dad). I also found out that they are very shade tolerant. Perfect for my new yard! My favourite chapter was the discussion about the 'World Tree' that the Vikings named Yggdrasil. I had heard it said that Yggdrasil was an ash but I'm pleased to see that new information and a very convincing argument points it to being a yew. I know the next plant that I buy will be what is now referred to as "the tree of life".

[Emma Filtness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite sciencey but still accessible - really informative, with a good spread of chapters covering different aspects of the yew. I particularly enjoyed The Metaphysical Yew, The Sacred Yew and the final section on The Threatened Yew (we really need to be doing more to protect our ancient yews here in the UK). I've been visiting local woods and churchyards as we are lucky to have quite a few yews nearby, and once things improve post-vaccine I'm going to go visit some of more of Britain's ancient yews.

[Jim Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a few concerns on being asked to write a book review of a subject which I have scant knowledge of. Would it be aimed at the existing experts in the field, and go completely over my head? As one who still relies on his memory of old Monty Python sketches to identify trees, I needn’t have worried. On receiving the copy of Fred Hagender’s Yew: A History I could immediately see that this book was aimed at a wider audience, not just the expert. The books cover, warm sunlight through a yew glade, drew me in, and it is wonderfully illustrated throughout with fantastic photography. What could have been a very dry subject comes alive through these stunning pictures, turning textbook into coffee table book, something that makes you want to sit down and read it.

The book is split into two parts, Nature and Culture, the former dealing mainly with the botanical aspects, the latter on the yew trees effect on everything from folklore to war, to trade and to religion.

The first section I found absolutely fascinating. As someone with no more than a basic knowledge of how trees work I found it to be laid out in a very logical manner and despite a very necessary use of technical and Latin terms, it was very easy to understand. Some writers like to use very long and obscure words, to give the impression of superiority over the reader. It can be very off-putting to have to sit with a dictionary while reading a book, breaking up the rhythm and spoiling any flow. This isn’t the case here, and having having put so much into the research and writing of this, the author has ensured it will be read and understood by as wide an audience as possible. This section covers more than just the tree from root to branch, also dealing with this poisonous trees relationship with the birds, animals, insects and other plants it shares its habitat with. I knew that yews could grow to a considerable age, but I was not aware of their technique of regeneration, one that would put Doctor Who in the shade! This understanding of the regenerative process is vital, as the author shows. Many ancient yews were killed through kindness in the past, their hollowed trunks being seen as a precursor to their collapse, and either filled with rubble or banded together with steel to help lengthen their life, which sadly sped up their demise instead. This part really is required reading for anyone who looks after one of these trees.

The second section deals with the yews relation with humans, and two parts of the book really stand out here. The English desire for yew wood for longbows for war which, had it not been for early fore-runners of the green movement, would have seen the species wiped from the face of the Europe is presented in great detail. It’s present day equivalent is also mentioned. This time medicine, not war, threatens the future of the yew. The need for the yew in the worldwide battle against cancer opens up new challenges, and the need to balance the medical needs of the sick with the survival of a species of tree which is notoriously slow growing is an interesting one. The author then rounds off this study with a thorough look at how the yew has affected worship throughout the ages, and has survived, like the tree itself, across a spectrum of belief systems and religions, with similarities in patterns of worship, seemingly absorbed and passed on from culture to culture for thousands of years. That the yew trees found in numerous British churchyards predate the Christian church itself throws up a myriad of questions as to why, and some of the theories which are put forward, dealing with folklore and legend are less convincing, the roots of his arguments not as strong as those of the trees which he writes of. However the author has scoured the globe to shine a light on long forgotten races and tribes to try and find out, in some cases more successfully than others, and his attention to detail cannot be faulted.

My only complaint, and a minor one, is that as a work of reference it should be reasonably straightforward to check the index, but this wasn’t always the case. As a layman I found it necessary to go look up some of the more technical terms that I had read in the text which I was unfamiliar with, such as cambium, and was a bit surprised to find it unlisted in the index. Only on nearing completion of the book did I discover a separate botanical glossary, where those terms are listed. Similarly I was aware of the Fotheringall Yew, Britains (and probably Europe’s) oldest yew tree, and wanted to see if it was recorded in the book, but could find neither reference to Fotheringall or Scotland. It was only on actually reading the book that I found mention of it, in a section on churches.

That aside, this is undoubtedly a unique work, covering a huge range of issues. Whether your interest in the yew, or trees in general, is fleeting or more determined, this book is an illuminating one, well laid out and easy on the eye. Make room for it on your bookshelf.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great series, well written and informative.

[oreveth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred Hageneder is at his best here, with his enthusiasm and passion perfectly balanced and directed by stellar editing and fact-checking. In other works, Hageneder's love of trees can carry him away a little from the straight and narrow, but here it just blossoms and delights, like a vine on proper scaffolding. Imagine hearing your favourite uncle talk for hours about his pet obsession in a room full of sober scientists, all of whom are happy to chime in and keep the discussion on track.

One so rarely finds reliable, deep information about a tree. Literature about the plant kingdom always seems to be designed as a survey of something or other, be it herbs, species that grow in your area, conifers, etc. This series really digs in, incorporating everything from botanical statistics to folklore.

I find it all the more important given the huge amount of junk information out there stemming from poorly-researched New Agey books and websites, all penned by people who not only get the science wrong, but the history and cultural traditions as well.

What a breath of fresh air. Yew is a book to which I return often, and which has genuinely revolutionised my experience of this tree in my environment.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. A very informed and interesting discussion of the Yew - providing biological, cultural understandings to a valuable tree species.