The thrilling adventures of the plant-hunters who created the modern British landscape
27th January 2025
Hardcover
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Summary
The thrilling adventures of the plant-hunters who created the modern British landscape
Description
For centuries, English country gentlemen had collected exotic pictures for their saloons and rare books for their libraries. By the end of the seventeenth century, they had begun to collect trees. Within the space of a few years, hundreds of new specimen trees enriched the British landscape, and demand was high for the most splendid imports: maples and tulip trees from the American colonies, cypresses and cedars from Europe and Lebanon, and oriental plane from Greece and Turkey, with its romantic associations with Plato's Academy.
How did these extraordinary trees make their way to the gardens of Britain and Ireland? Who were the scholars and daredevils who combed the new and old worlds in search of green treasure? What crimes did they commit, and what price did they pay to bring the world's charismatic megaflora to the gardens of home?In this exuberant history, Thomas Pakenham reveals the marvellous tales of adventure, discovery, rivalry, and passion that created the modern British landscape.Critic Reviews
Delightful and adventure-packed . . . I feel indebted to Pakenham for reminding us about the exploits fuelled by rivalry, courage and passion that have helped to populate the British landscape with such glorious - and enduring - giants -- Miranda Seymour FT
Pakenham is a brilliant storyteller . . . A very readable account of an influential period in botanical history The English Garden
About the Author
Thomas Pakenham is the author of the critically acclaimed The Scramble for Africa which won the W.H. Smith Award and the Alan Paton Award. He is also the author of The Boer War, The Mountains of Rasselas and The Company of Trees.
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27th January 2025
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