"This is a scientific detective story with heroes and heroines following clues and, eventually, finding answers. The history of man's relation to seeds is the history of civilization. To many of us seeds mean little more than tiny objects in paper packets, but we should also think of rice, wheat, coffee, nuts, peas, beans, chocolate and cotton. The author, who was head of the physiology department at Kew Gardens and laid the foundations for the Millennium Seed Bank, unfolds the fascinating story of how, after centuries long investigations, we have finally discovered what seeds do and how they work. The book also brings to life the people who have accumulated our knowledge, eccentrics, explorers, amateurs and highly dedicated professionals. Some are well known, such as Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel; others, such as the Russian geneticist Nikolai Vavilov, less so. There are violent confrontations, miraculous successes and heart-rending failures. But the seeds also have a story and appear to have personalities, ambitions and "stratagems" of their own. The book concludes with a chapter by Stephen Harris on current debates about genetically modified crops, seed conservation and plant ownership. Seeds have been hugely important throughout history. Today, how we treat them is of global significance."--Publisher.