Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.