English rose (epithet)
English rose is a description, associated with English culture, that may be applied to a naturally beautiful woman or girl who is from or is associated with England.
The description has a cultural reference to the national flower of England, the rose,[1] and to its long tradition within English symbolism.
Use in arts
[edit]The term "English rose" is found in Merrie England (1902), a comic opera written by Basil Hood. He describes a garden where "women are the flowers" and in which "the sweetest blossom" or "fairest queen" is "the perfect English rose".[2] The words are performed by a tenor in the role of Sir Walter Raleigh (1554–1618), in the presence of a May Queen, but regarding his secret love (purely within the opera), a member of the household of Elizabeth I.
A song by the rock band the Jam taken from their album All Mod Cons (1978) is titled "English Rose".[3] At the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, Elton John performed a new version of his 1974 hit, "Candle in the Wind", which began with the adapted lyrics, "Goodbye England's rose...".[4]
"Last of the English Roses" is a 2008 song by singer/songwriter Pete Doherty from his album Grace/Wastelands. English Rose is the name of the 2019 debut album by singer/songwriter Connie Constance; its first song (a cover of a song by the Jam) is also titled "English Rose".
Notable "English roses"
[edit]
- Julie Andrews (born 1935), actress, singer and author[5][6]
- Kate Beckinsale (born 1973), actress[7]
- Helena Bonham Carter (born 1966), actress; label applies to her early roles[8]
- Emily Blunt (born 1983), actress[9]
- Catherine, Princess of Wales (born 1982)[10]
- Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997)[11]
- Lynne Frederick (1954–1994), actress[12]
- Lily James (born 1989), actress[13]
- Keira Knightley (born 1985), actress[14][15]
- Hayley Mills (born 1946), actress[16]
- Rosamund Pike (born 1979), actress[17]
- Emma Watson (born 1990), actress[18]
- Rachel Weisz (born 1970), actress[19]
- Kate Winslet (born 1975), actress[20]
See also
[edit]
- Rose Queen
- Peaches and cream (Wiktionary definition)
- Sonnet 18 (Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?)
- Yamato nadeshiko
- List of people known as the Beautiful
- List of people known as the Fair
- Southern belle
References
[edit]- ^ "England's National Symbols". englandforever.org/. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ Dent, Susie, ed. (2012). Brewer's dictionary of phrase & fable (19th ed.). Edinburgh: Chambers. p. 445. ISBN 978-0-550-10245-4.
- ^ Discogs, The Jam – All Mod Cons (accessed on 2 January 2023)
- ^ Davis, Sheila (15 October 1992). The songwriters idea book. Writer's Digest Books. p. 103. ISBN 9780898795196.
I thought it was very important to project it from a nation's standpoint. I wanted to make it sound like a country singing it. From the first couple of lines I wrote [which began "Goodbye England's Rose"], the rest sort of fell into place.
[permanent dead link] - ^ Cinema Year by Year: The Complete Illustrated History of Film. Dorling Kindersley. 2006. p. 470.
- ^ "As Millie, a real Julie Blossoms". Life magazine. 28 April 1967.
- ^ "Kate Beckinsale: English pearl". BBC. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Helena Bonham Carter: Wicked fun of the wilted English rose". The Times. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ Magsaysay, Melissa (15 December 2014). "Makeup Monday: Emily Blunt's Dramatic Beauty Look". The Hollywood Reporter.
When it comes to makeup, Emily Blunt usually goes the route of gorgeous, English rose — with her perfectly flushed cheeks and even, alabaster skin drawing a striking contrast to her chestnut hair.
- ^ Kosin, Julie (25 August 2014). "The Enduring Appeal of Kate Middleton and Kate Moss". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Diana: An English Rose". Royalty Magazine. 23 January 2015. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019.
- ^ Edwards, Jonathan (1 January 2020). "Lynne Frederick Remembered » We Are Cult". We Are Cult. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Mottram, James (15 March 2015). "Disney's Cinderella: Why Downton Abbey star Lily James is not just another English rose". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "32 Times Keira Knightley Was The Ultimate English Rose". Elle. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "5 Easy Steps To The Prettiest English Rose Make-Up Look". Vogue. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "The King and I".
- ^ "Pike: I'm not just an English rose". Belfast Telegraph. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- ^ "Emma Watson is turned into wax at Madame Tussauds". Metro. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
She's a true English rose known and loved by millions of film and fashion fans around the world"
- ^ "Rachel Weisz – Biography". Hello!. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Kate Winslet: The golden girl". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2020.