A chronicle of algae’s abiding allure

From purple laver to peacock’s tail, sugar kelp to sea girdle, every variety of seaweed is lovingly, and lyrically, evoked in the Dutch poet and artist Miek Zwamborn’s homage to the ‘truffles of the sea’. Illustrated with her intricate botanical drawings, The Seaweed Collector’s Handbook charts the fascinating history of algae in a sweeping narrative that takes in the travels of Christopher Columbus, the artwork of Henri Matisse and the writing of Jean Rhys. Zwamborn explores seaweed’s role in sustainable ocean farming, medicine and even gastronomy: at the back of the book are a selection of recipes such as rockweed bread and ‘mermaid confetti’ – crunchy, golden-coloured biscuits made with shredded sea lettuce. fh ‘The Seaweed Collector’s Handbook’ by Miek Zwamborn (£12.99, Profile Books) is published on 2 July.