The Secret Rose Garden

The secret rose garden in “books and roses” is symbolic of not only the natural, wondrous beauty of nature but of the way humans try to possess and keep that nature for themselves. The story “books and roses” implies that people have tried to hoard this garden and have even killed for access to it.

Señora Del Olmo's Blood-Spattered Rose

The blood-spattered rose that Señora Del Olmo is holding in her hand after she is killed symbolizes the ultimate futility of her efforts to hoard the garden. After jealously keeping the secret garden to herself and refusing to show Safiye, Señora Del Olmo is still loses her control over the garden in the end.

Rowan Wayland

Rowan Wayland is the name of the both the alchemist Rowan Wayland who died centuries ago and is buried in the Vienna cemetery and...