Gardens
A Short History
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Gardens take many forms, and have a variety of functions. They can serve as spaces of peace and tranquilty, a way to cultivate wildlife, or as places to develop agricultural resources. Globally, gardens have inspired, comforted, and sustained people from all walks of life, and since the Garden of Eden many iconic gardens have inspired great artists, poets, musicians, and writers.
In this short history, Gordon Campbell embraces gardens in all their splendour, from parks, and fruit and vegetable gardens to ornamental gardens, and takes the reader on a globe-trotting historical journey through iconic and cultural signposts of gardens from different regions and traditions. Ranging from the gardens of ancient Persia to modern day allotments, he concludes by looking to the future of the garden in the age of global warming, and the adaptive spirit of human innovation.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This diminutive book explores the history and evolution of the garden, not only as an art form but also as sacred space for a lively partnership between humans and nature. Spanning from antiquity to modern times, Campbell (The Hermit in the Garden) traces the origins of gardens in both Eastern and Western cultures, noting that "in the West, for example, gardens are usually centered on horticulture, whereas in the East, gardens are often centered on stones." Touching on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; Roman gardens of cypress, pine, pomegranate, and palm; sacred gardens of South Asia; Islamic gardens; and 20th-century British cottage gardens, this small book covers much ground. As knowledgeable as it is accessible, this concise and expertly drawn history enlightens and delights.
