Lives of the Great Gardeners - Hardcover

Anderton, Stephen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0500518564 ISBN 13: 9780500518564

Publisher: Thames and Hudson Ltd, 2016

Synopsis

Throughout history great gardeners have risen from all walks of life. Some have been aristocratic amateur gardeners, others professional designers with an international practice. Some have come to garden-making from sister arts such as sculpture or painting; some have been hands-on nurserymen or botanists., What they all have in common, no matter where or when they were born, is the ability to take an idea and develop it in a new manner relevant to their times. The book contains four sections. 'Gardens of Ideas' moves from the politically allusive gardens of 18th-century England made by men such as William Kent, to Charles Jencks' Scottish garden inspired by 21st-century cosmography., 'Gardens of Straight Lines' explores the lives of the great formalist gardeners, from Le Notre at Versailles to the rational English minimalism of contemporary designer Christopher Bradley-Hole. 'Gardens of Curves' begins with that great exponent of the English landscape garden, 'Capability' Brown, and leads to the extraordinary Brazilian designer Roberto Burle Marx.Finally, 'Gardens of Plantsmanship' moves from the father of naturalistic planting, William Robinson, to the sweeping prairies of New York's favourite Dutch designer, Piet Oudolf. With an outstanding text by the award-winning gardens writer Stephen Anderton, this book will appeal to garden lovers everywhere.

About this title

Review:

'Who would have thought a book about gardeners would be as compulsive a page-turner as a Dan Brown novel?' -- Irish Examiner

'Fascinating and gorgeous to look at' -- Woman & Home

'A visually appealing and pleasurable read.' -- House & Garden

'An eclectic and beautifully presented collection of essays...an enjoyable read.' -- Tim Richardson's books of the year, Daily Telegraph

'An ideal book to keep gardeners inspired.' --- The Lady

'An entertaining and informative introduction to those who have helped shape our landscapes.' --Sunday Times books of the year

Lively and entertaining' --The Reckless Gardener

'A delight' --Mature Times

A concise and elegant text, excellently supported by illustrations' -- Historic Gardens Review

'An entertaining read...[Anderton] mixes the contemporary with the historical, the esoteric and the experimental and unfamiliar with old favourites' --The Times

'Engaging...a surprising and enlightening survey of what gardens can be' --Literary Review

‘An ideal book to keep gardeners inspired.’ -- The Lady
 
‘Who would have thought a book about gardeners would be as compulsive a page-turner as a Dan Brown novel?’ -- Irish Examiner
 
‘Fascinating and gorgeous to look at’ Woman & Home
 
‘A visually appealing and pleasurable read.’ -- House & Garden
 
Daily Mail gardening books of the year

‘An eclectic and beautifully presented collection of essays...an enjoyable read.’ -- Tim Richardson’s books of the year, Daily Telegraph

‘Excellent’ -- This England

About the Author:

Stephen Anderton is a journalist, author, lecturer, and broadcaster. He is The Times's longstanding writer on gardens and gardening.

About this edition

• Publisher: Thames and Hudson Ltd
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0500518564
• ISBN 13: 9780500518564
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304