There exists an area of overlap where language and nature meet, and this book, first published in 1980, illuminates that fascinating territory. When real-world things, such as plants, are used in literature or language as symbols, these special signs have a double allegiance.

Ralf Norrman, Jon Haarberg

Foreword; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part 1: 'Pregnant Gourds' and 'Delirious Pumpkins': The Semiotic Matrix of Cucurbits; Part 2: Implications; 1. Is a literary work written by the author or by the readers? 2. Does a literary work write itself? 3. Sign and signification 4. Independent creation versus tradition 5. On the nature of signs used in cucurbitic metaphors; Conclusion; Notes; Works cited; Translations; Index