Collected Curiosities - by Amanda Edmiston (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Step back into the spiral of time and open the apothecary cabinet once more.

Following on from the enchanting journey of The Time Traveller's Herbal, Amanda Edmiston returns with Collected Curiosities, a rich tapestry of folklore, herbal lore, recipes, and personal reflections that bridge history and healing.

We rejoin our herbal time traveller in 1800s Scotland, meeting Lady Lawers on the banks of Loch Tay, whose prophecies about an Ash tree lead us into urgent conversations about nature, sustainability, and cultural memory. From the clearances and the rise of industrialisation to Victorian ghost stories and First World War folklore, this is a journey steeped in mystery, movement, and medicinal magic.

• A Journey Through Time and Plant Lore: Travel from post-Enlightenment Scotland to Edwardian England, following folklore and herbal wisdom through centuries of social and cultural change.
• Folktales, Ghost Stories and Forgotten Remedies: Discover herbal recipes with hazel, cleavers, mugwort, plantain, and more--set against stories of mermaids, soothsayers, and ghostly hedges.
• Creative and Practical: Includes accessible recipes and herbal experiments grounded in historical practices and contemporary awareness of sustainability.
• Rooted in Women's Voices: Meet the wise women, herbalists, and forgotten pioneers, including Florence Marian McNeill and the legendary Granny Smith, Queen of the Gypsies.
• A Legacy of Healing: From cabbage poultices to hop-picking tales, explore the links between past traditions and present wellness trends.

This is a book to be savoured like a slow infusion, connecting the reader not just to plants, but to the people, places, and stories that shaped them.

Open the cabinet, and let the stories and scents of the past guide you forward.

About the Author

A former student of herbal medicine, based in Scotland, Amanda loves telling stories that feature plants and uses an engaging blend of history, fairy tales and folklore to create new tales to intrigue her audiences. Her sessions involve interesting and unusual multi sensory props...prepare to be surprised by unexpected noises, smells and objects from fantastic places!

The daughter of a storyteller, stories are part of Amanda's DNA, she has combined them with her passion for herbs and potions in a unique way which inspires participants to uncover facts and stories for themselves.

She works across the UK and also tours internationally. She has delivered sessions designed to inspire young readers with The National Literacy Trust and has created sessions for The Scottish Ballet's education department, Edinburgh International Science Festival, The National Museum of Rural Life and Chelsea Physic garden in London, amongst others.