The Golden Age of the Garden

The relationship between England and its gardens might be described as a love affair; gardening is a national passion, rooted in history. The e18th century is often called the Golden Age of English gardening; as the fashion for formal pleasure grounds for the wealthy faded, a new era began, filled with picturesque vistas inspired by nature. Charting the transformation in English landscapes through the 18th and 19th centuries, The Golden Age of the Garden brings the voices of the past alive in newspaper reports, letters, diaries, books, essays and travelogues, offering contemporary gardening advice, principles of design, reflections on nature, landscape and plants, and a unique perspective on the origins of the English fascination with gardens. Exploring the different styles, techniques and innovations, and the creation of many of the stunning spaces that visitors still flock to see today, this is an evocative and rewarding collection for all gardeners and garden-lovers seeking insight, ideas and surprises.

“a treasure trove of wonderful short extracts…meant to be dipped into and savored like an anthology of poetry.” —The Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition

Claire Cock-Starkey is a writer, editor, and researcher specializing in historical miscellanies and natural history. She worked with Ben Schott on his highly popular sports miscellany, and was series editor for all six editions of Schott’s Almanac. She writes regularly for Mental Floss and is the author of Penguins, Pineapples and Pangolins, Famous Last Words, and How to Skin a Lion.