The English Landscape Garden

Dreaming of Arcadia

by Tim Richardson

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Pub Date 22 Oct 2024 | Archive Date 8 Nov 2024

Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Frances Lincoln

History | Home & Garden | Travel

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Description

Smooth lawns, glassy pools, cool garden temples, mysterious woodland glades, evocative statuary ... the 18th-century English landscape garden offers a transcendent vision of Arcadia, a world of rich escapism peopled by gods and goddesses, young lovers and dairymaids, poets and philosophers.

This sumptuous, beautifully photographed volume celebrates this quintessentially British creation, arguably its greatest artform, taking you on a tour of 20 of the finest surviving gardens, including:

Studley Royal (Yorkshire), a dreamy valley garden which culminates with a view down and across the ruins of a Cistercian abbey
Stowe (Buckinghamshire), the great politically motivated garden of its day, boasting the ensemble masterpiece that is William Kent’s Elysian Fields
Chiswick House (London), Lord Burlington’s experiment in neoclassical architecture
Petworth (Sussex) – of ‘Capability’ Brown, who eschewed the symbolism of earlier generations but created instead his own powerful vision of pastoral Arcadia
Hawkstone Park (Shropshire), designed to elicit a thrill of fear in visitors as they traverse rocky precipices and encounter live hermits

Including much new research and specially commissioned photographs, this is a book to dive into and be transported to an idyllic dream realm.

Available Editions

EDITION	Hardcover
ISBN	9780711290921
PRICE	US$60.00 (USD)
PAGES	320

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Featured Reviews

Theresa M, Reviewer

“The English Landscape Garden” by Tim Richardson is a beautiful look into eighteenth-century landscape gardens. I would buy it for the photos alone, but there is so much more to this book, from the detailed descriptions to the historical references.

“The English Landscape Garden” transports the reader to the exquisite gardens. I was charmed by them and only hope to have the opportunity to visit them in the future.

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Cherryl V, Reviewer

"The English Landscape Garden" by Tim Richardson is an absolute treasure for anyone who appreciates the beauty and history of gardens. This coffee table book takes readers on a visually stunning tour of some of the most exquisite and memorable gardens in England, showcasing the rich variety and creativity of this centuries-old art form.

Richardson's authoritative and engaging text provides a wealth of information about the history and design of each garden, highlighting the unique features that make each one special. The photography is stunning, capturing the gardens in all their glory, from sweeping vistas to intimate details.

What makes this book truly exceptional is the way Richardson brings each garden to life, sharing the stories of the people who created and cared for them over the years. The result is a celebration of not just the gardens themselves, but of the passion and dedication of those who have tended them.

Overall, "The English Landscape Garden" is a must-have for garden lovers and anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature. It's a book that you'll treasure for years to come, and one that will inspire you to see the gardens of England in a whole new light.