Comprehensive Begonia book?

I need a new obsession.
And as these things happen rather than being chosen, Begonias it is.

I went into my wonderful bookstore last week hoping to sit down and browse four or five Begonia books before chosing which to buy, but to my complete horror I found not one!
Plan B it is- Ebay.
Again, no books. And this for a Genus that has fascinated people for eons.
Are Begonias the forgotten plants, bookwise?

I have browsed used booksellers online and found a few, all published at least 30 years ago. Websites are similarly lacking in detail and scope.
What gives?

I am looking for a comprehensive book detailing Begonias in their natural settings, first collection efforts, hybridization, profiles of folks responsible for bringing them into homes, their uses as landscape plants, cutting edge cultural information, beautiful color plates- in short, the works.
Does such a book exist?
If not, can somebody write one??

I have several cultivars of Angel wings (all from Ebay) currently growing in my yard, and have used the little Wax Begonias for years. I have recently added a few potted Rex, and it seems this is where my heart wants to go.

Can Rex Begonias be used in landscaping, assuming there is no frost? Better yet, is it practical? Will snails eat them all, or will they drown during our rainy season?
I would love to collect many varieties, but hurricane season causes me to bring all potted plants/orchids/rhipsalis etc. indoors for every storm so if I have to keep my Rex's potted then I must limit the numbers.
(Indoors in not an option- my cats are wicked. Even my African Violets are growing outdoors on a covered porch.)

Too many questions, I know.

My main ones are- is there a book somewhere?
If not, where should I look for information besides the Begonia Society (which is in the works).

Thanks for any suggestions- I've browsed this forum for weeks now and just can't get enough.

I would suggest Mark Tebbits book as far as species culture, ID and information on a particular species. He's an amazing young man whom several of us had the chance to meet and hear his lecture at the florida begonia convention.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0881927333/ref=sr_11_1/104-0587410-7842337?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Sadly there is not one all encompassing book for what you are looking for. You can fill in with the Thompson's book, but it is out of print and expensive on Amazon and dated albeit still has good info. Sadly most of the photos are in black and white. I still refer to this book on a regular basis.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812908244/qid=1148138210/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/104-0587410-7842337?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

I'll also mention Mike Steven's book but I found it to be less of what I was looking for. I was on the same search as you.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1552975517/qid=1148138210/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-0587410-7842337?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

hope this helps.

Hi,

I have my Rex's in the garden. Part shade and sometimes too much sun. They withstand the summer better than the winter for that is when they went dormant. Now this is about 1 year that they have been there so I don't know if the winter thing happens all the time. Right now they are happy as clams. I am getting nervous about the summer, though. Time will tell.

Here's a couple of mine taken in the spring.
Hap

One more.

Thanks begoniacrazii for the book recommendation.

And Happy_1- local experiences are very welcome.

I don't mind them going dormant if they come back! It is the summer rain that worries me most. I think I will keep them in pots until they are large enough to take leaves from. Then I'll plant some and keep some starts back as insurance. They sure are lovely!