Russian Parks and Gardens [Hardcover]

Peter Hayden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

Garden historian Peter Hayden narrates a comprehensive history of the parks and gardens of Russia, spanning a thousand years from the first Byzantine-influenced gardens in the 10th century AD, through to the present day. Along the way, he discusses the influence of Peter the Great, who introduced ideas, plants and designers from Holland, France and Germany to create St Petersburg's Summer Garden and the great formal garden at Peterhof by the Gulf of Finland. The introduction of the English style of landscaping owed much to Catherine the Great, and British gardeners were recruited to lay out parks for the Empress and rich nobles. With a wealth of illustration and with detailed discussion of some of the most beautiful and historically interesting parks and gardens in the world, this pioneering book promises to become an instant classic.

Editorial Reviews

Review

... a feast of 800 years of Russian landscape culture. Hayden's photographs are rich and evocative, his prose refreshingly clear and erudite Gardens Illustrated ... beautifully illustrated throughout and packed with anecdotes bringing back not only these extraordinary parks and gardens, but the whole lost world in which they were created Daily Telegraph ... a proper old-fashioned coffee-table book, lovingly researched and superbly photographed ... the result is a revelation Independent on Sunday

About the Author

Peter Hayden is a lecturer and consultant on historic Russian gardens, a former Honorary Treasurer and former Chairman of the Garden History Society. He has contributed articles and photographs to numerous prestigious gardening publications and periodicals. His photographs of Russian gardens have been exhibited up and down the country.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711224307
• ISBN-13: 978-0711224308
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 10.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,597,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO LANDSCAPE HISTORY, October 17, 2005

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Russian Parks and Gardens (Hardcover)

Since the climate is not conducive to gardening, many may be surprised to learn that Russia has some of the most beautiful gardens and parks in the world. What better way to visit them but from the comfort of an easy chair with garden historian Peter Hayden as your guide?

A former chairman of the Garden History Society and an honorary member of the Swedish Society for Dendrology and Park Culture, Hayden knows his subject well. He's the ideal person to compile "Russian Parks and Gardens," which is the first comprehensive history of Russian landscape to be printed in English. Many of the photos included in this volume were taken by Hayden himself and had not been published outside of Russia. There's a wealth to enjoy in 256 pages highlighted by 165 color photographs and 100 archive illustrations.

Hayden's history covers more than 800 years beginning with the initial gardens in the 12th century. We learn that it was Peter the Great who first introduced formal gardens to his homeland by bringing designers and plants from Holland, France, Germany, and Italy. Today St. Petersburg's Summer Garden, which covers 27 acres, is the most popular open space in all of Russia.

What is known as the English style of landscaping was brought to Russia by Catherine the Great who hired British gardeners to design parks for the privileged. In addition, many parks and gardens were created by wealthy families who had the wherewithal to do so, as well as access to thousands of serfs to do the work.

Naturally, the Revolution took its toll on quite a number of Russia's parks and gardens but many have been restored so that they are even more glorious today.

"Russian Parks and Gardens" is an amazing contribution to the annals of landscape history, and a joy to behold.

- Gail Cooke

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fills a hole in garden history writing, April 12, 2008

By 

Lupo Montegrigio (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Russian Parks and Gardens (Hardcover)

A true joy to derail from the well-trotten road from Britain to France ending in Italy. At last we are presented with the more unknown gardens of Russia. It's a beautiful book, well written by an authority and with great photos. I especially liked the pavillion disguised as heap of firing-wood, must be one-of-a-kind in this world.