In "Where the Old Roses Grow: Vita Sackville-West and the Battle for Beauty during Wartime," Janelle McCulloch shows how important gardens are to the British spirit and history. Indeed, the idea of the rose and its inclusion in a garden is an important factor in this preservation of history and tradition. McCulloch does a first-rate job at going through the history of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicholson's garden, Sissinghurst. McCulloch details the creation and continuation of this beautiful garden. We grow to care about the garden, and how much consideration Sackville-West and Nicholson put into the continuation of the garden.

Through telling the story of garden and roses, we learn about the various types of roses, and how rosarians cared for and ensured that the roses and their histories would not be erased even in times of war. We often just think about the beauty of roses and gardening, but we do not always consider the way they impact our moods, our relationships, and our connection to country. As McCulloch repeatedly points out, we find solace in beauty and nature. Gardens can help us make sense of a world that feels chaotic and dangerous. McCulloch's book is a nice balm for uncertain times.

A fascinating book for anyone who loves gardens, especially rose gardens. Vita Sackville-West and her husband, Harold Nicholson, moved to the now-famous Long Barn in Sissinghurst in 1930. There she transformed a neglected plot into one of the most famous gardens in England. This is the story of how she achieved it. Just before WWII, she wrote a book about her garden and opened it to the public, perhaps wanting it to become more widely known in case it became neglected during the war. There is also a section on the author’s experience of writing and gardening during the time of Covid. Towards the end, there are references to other famous gardens and gardeners, such as Mottisfont in Hampshire. A gardener’s delight.

This was a good choice for me, a blend of flowers, historical and literary figures. An enjoyable new slant on Vita Sackville-West’s biography which also introduced me to some new people. The details about the history of roses were accessible and enjoyable even for someone who’s not a gardener. I hope the print version will have illustrations. I’m not overly a fan of intrusive authorial voices though and there was a bit of that.

Thank you Netgally and Ad Lib Publishers for giving me this opportunity to read this ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and provide my honest review.

I have loved roses since childhood. Whenever I saw one, especially a red rose, I couldn't resist taking it with me. Weddings, in particular, seemed to have the most stunning roses, perhaps because red is my favorite color. We had small gardens on our rooftop and balcony filled with various flower and vegetable plants in tubs. Despite having roses, we could never seem to grow the big, beautiful red ones at home, which was disappointing then and still is now.

I was particularly captivated by the wealth of information about rose names and their histories. Did you know that many of the roses we cherish today were once on the brink of extinction? These dedicated rosarians collected rare, old roses and ensured their survival, even as German bombers darkened the skies and hope seemed to fade.

During an internet blackout in my country, I read, drew, and painted to pass the time. When the internet was restored, I searched for new books and came across this one. As I mentioned earlier, roses are my favorite flower, so I was intrigued by the book's description and plot. The book isn't just about roses; it's about resilience and hope. Their love for roses and their commitment to preserving them for future generations is truly inspiring. It serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty that can flourish even in the darkest times.

If you have an interest in history, or gardening, want to learn more about roses, or simply seek an uplifting story, I highly recommend this book.