A Gardener's Labyrinth: Portraits of People, Plants and Places [Hardcover]

Patrick Kinmonth (Author), Tessa Traeger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

An evocation of the British garden past, present, and future, A Gardener's Labyrinth celebrates 50 visionary gardeners and their glorious gardens. Illustrated with outstanding images by acclaimed photographer Tessa Traeger, the book reveals a history of gardens from tiny city allotments to country estates and formality to wilderness, as seen through the eyes of those who have shaped them. Whether as designers or writers, horticulturists or conservationists, explorers or scholars, all have enriched and furthered the tradition of gardening. Patrick Kinmonth unravels the principles and philosophies that have informed the gardeners' work and explores new directions for gardens of the future. A brief biography of each gardener completes this elegant book, designed by Stephen Gan of Visionaire magazine.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tessa Traeger has worked at Rossetti Studios in London since the 1960s. She is best known for her still-life photographs taken with large-format cameras, many of which were published in British Vogue. Her award-winning work is represented in major international museum collections. Patrick Kinmonth has created set and costume designs for opera houses around the world. He has also designed major museum exhibitions. As Art Director of British Vogue, Kinmonth has worked with some of the most important photographers of his time.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861542496
• ISBN-13: 978-1861542496
• Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 10.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,687,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A celebration of great English gardeners, January 13, 2004

By 

W. Oliver (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Gardener's Labyrinth: Portraits of People, Plants and Places (Hardcover)

Fifty great gardeners are profiled here in this beautiful coffee table book. Chapters are divided as "The Garden Proposed," "The Garden Described," "The Garden Planted," "The Garden Preserved," and "The Garden Explored." A four or five page essay accompanies each portrait in which the gardener discusses various aspects of their career, their philosophy of gardening, inspiration, opinions on design, or the making of their own personal garden. A portrait of the gardener and photos of their gardens are included. The photographs are by Tessa Traeger (renowed for her work in British Vogue) and they are simply outstanding.

The gardeners included are Andy Goldsworthy, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Charles Jencks, Kim Wilkie, Penelope Hobhouse, John Brookes, Arabella Lennox-Boyd, Mary Keen, Dan Pearson, Julian and Isabel Bannerman, Roy Strong and Julia Trevelyan Oman, Bob Flowerdew, Robin Lane Fox, Anne Scott-James, Pamela Schwerdt and Sibylle Dreutzberger, Graham Stuart Thomas, Anna Pavord, David Wheeler, Andrew Lawson, Tony Lord, David Hessayon, Geoff Stokes, Valerie Finnis, Carol Klein, Christopher Lloyd and Fergus Garrett, Beth Chatto, Keith Wiley, Alan Bloom, David Austin, Joy Larkcom, Jackie and Alan Gear, Mike Snowden, Miriam Rothschild, John Sales, Marchioness of Salisbury, Xa Tollemache, Robin Compton, Angelika Cawdor, Gilly Drummond, Martin Puddle, Beth Rothschild, Brian Mathew, Roy Lancaster, Christopher Brickell, James Compton, Nigel Marshall, Barry Unwin, Ghillean Prance, and Tim Smit. Biographies on each gardener are included at the back of the book.

Only one complaint - the unconventional size of the book (15 inches wide!) makes it awkward and impossible to look at comfortably (the only good way is to lay it flat on a table). Still, this shouldn't deter the gardening enthusiast. This is an exceptionally beautiful book and comes in an equally nice slipcase.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love English gardens, you will love this, July 5, 2009

By 

David Carmean (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Gardener's Labyrinth: Portraits of People, Plants and Places (Hardcover)

This book is beautiful - the target audience is very specific- admirers of British gardens. I bought it as a gift, so only had a chance to browse it. The recipient is happy.