A Short History of Gardens

Description

A Short History of Gardens embraces the beauty and practicality of gardens, in history and culture across the world. Gordon Campbell also look at variations on the modern garden, including the suburban garden, the city garden, the guerrilla garden, and the vegetable garden, and considers the future of gardens.

• A celebration of gardens' many practical and aesthetic functions
• Discusses iconic gardens from history, including the gardens of Suzhou, the temple garden of Nikko, the Medici gardens around Florence, the Escorial and the Tudor gardens at Hampton Court Palace
• Pinpoints cultural signposts and landmarks in gardens on a global scale
• Discusses the future of the garden in terms of innovation and climate change

About the Author(s)

Gordon Campbell, Professor of Renaissance Studies, University of Leicester

Gordon Campbell is Professor of Renaissance Studies at the University of Leicester, and is a Fellow of the British Academy. In January 2012 he was presented with the Longman History Today Trustees Award (for lifetime contribution to history). He has authored and edited many books for OUP including The Oxford Dictionary of the Renaissance (2003); Renaissance Art and Architecture (2004); John Milton: Life, Work and Thought (2008; co-author); Bible: the Story of the King James Version, 1611-2011 (2010); and The Hermit in the Garden: from Imperial Rome to Ornamental Gnome (2013).

Table of Contents

Introduction
1:The Ancient and Medieval Garden
2:The Islamic Garden
3:The East Asian Garden
4:Italy
5:France
6:Spain and Portugal
7:Northern Europe
8:Britain
9:America, Africa, and Australia
Postscript: The Future History of the Garden
Glossary
Further Reading
Index

Reviews

"A clear and comprehensively written account of the history of gardens. The result couldnt be more refreshing. [...] From parks and fruit and vegetable gardens to ornamental and formal gardens, he provides a concise and easily readable narrative of their evolution. The result, although described as short, is absolutely perfect, providing an overview of garden history that is succinct, comprehensive and readable." - Patrice Todisco, Landscape Notes

"A useful overview." - Mary Davies, The Irish Garden

"A joy to read" - Suffolk and Norfolk Life

"The text is lucid, scholarly and, above all, highly readable. Linking together the famous names in horticulture past and present and offering up a coherent story, this is a book to browse and learn from and I suspect it will become well-thumbed. A short history it may be, but it is thorough and good." - Buckinghamshire Life Magazine

"a globe-trotting magical history tour" - Leon Burakowski, Express & Star

"Condensed guide to garden history" - Garden (Royal Horticultural Society)

"One of the nicest little books I've had in my hands for ages ... it is the overall sweep of the book that impresses" - Gillian Mawrey, Historic Gardens Review

"As informative as it is accessible, this compact and expertly researched historical chronicle surprises and delights." - Georgina Chahed, Garden Design Journal