A Memory of Violets

My list of books featuring pansies, violets, or violas as part of the story now stands at…

Two books.

This past week I finished reading and listening to A Memory of Violets: A Novel of London’s Flower Sellers by Hazel Gaynor. The story features two poor Irish girls who sell violets and other flowers on the streets of London and then one day, they get separated…

Violets feature as both a flower they once sold on the streets and as a scent that weaves in and out of the story.

This book and An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden are the only two books on my list so far.

Surely there are more! And slowly, I will find them.

If you know of such a book, where violets, pansies, or violas are somehow a part of the story, let me know.

But don’t tell me about books about people named Violet. There are many of those, and most of them are not of interest to me. Violets in name only don’t count! And don’t suggest books about people who are called pansies in a derogatory way. I’m also not interested in them. Ditto the books written at the turn of the 20th century by an author whose pen name was Pansy.

(Though I did see the cover of one of her books from around 1885, and it might be worth buying just for the beautiful cover if I could find one in good condition at a good price…)

Tell me about books with the actual flowers in them!

Oh, oh, oh, I think I know where to look next!

False alarm. I thought perhaps one of Susan Wittig Albert’s China Bayles mysteries might feature violets because each book features a different plant. But, if you’re inspired by my little list-making idea, and have decided to make a book list for your favorite plant or flower, her books would be a good place to start your search.

Wait! What about the Brother Cadfael mysteries, by Ellis Peter? He’s an herbalist, always messing around with plants? Surely one of those stories features violets?

It’s possible, but I can’t figure it out from the titles, and I read them so long ago that I can’t remember violets or pansies or violas being featured in them.

But sticking with the cozy mysteries, I searched a little deeper and there are some cozy mysteries that look promising, including Violets are Clues: A Twin Cities Cozy Mystery by Amy Grundy, Victim in the Violets (Lovely Lethal Gardens) by Dale Mayer, and The Odor of Violets: A Duncan Maclain Mystery by Maynard Kendrick.

I will see about reading them this winter and decide if they meet my criteria to be included on the list.

In the meantime, if you come across a book featuring pansies, violas, or violets as part of the story, please think of me and let me know!