As seen on BBC: An illustrated visit to four iconic gardens, each a product of its age, with stories of the creators and events that shaped them.
The stories of these gardens’ creation include obsession, escape, social ambition, political intrigue, heartbreak, bankruptcy, and disaster. In unravelling these remarkable stories we reach back over the centuries to see these great gardens through fresh eyes.
From the magnificent landscape garden at Stowe created by Bridgeman, Kent and Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown; the Victorian masterpiece of Biddulph Grange; the romantic Arts & Crafts retreat at Nymans; and Christopher Lloyd’s plantsman’s paradise at Great Dixter, you will hear of adventure, innovation, and visionary individuals who changed the way we create our gardens and the plants we grow. Katie Campbell weaves the stories of these four exemplary gardens into a history of British gardening from the earliest cultivated spaces to the present day, exploring trends, influences, and pioneers. Fascinating historic detail and atmospheric storytelling make this a compelling read.
Includes a foreword by Chris Beardshaw, specially commissioned photography by Nathan Harrison, and extensive archive illustrations
“A worthy accompaniment to the BBC series of the same name.” —The Irish Times
“Campbell treads a nice line between juicy facts and the aesthetic qualities of the gardens. I adore her description of Jane Austen-ish tourists turning up in carriages, buying guidebooks and filling up the local inns, while commendably tipping the head gardener.” —The Independent
