Review by Choice Review
A complete, in-depth study of Philip Miller--his scientific achievements, circle of friends, and, generally, his place in 18th-century botany. The task faced by Le Rougetel was not an easy one, since there is little primary material available. By interweaving available information and social history, a whole cloth is formed that shows the man and the times. The book sheds light on a period when botanical gardens were developing both as sources of medicinal plant materials and as introduction centers for plants from around the world. As gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden, Miller was at the center of a rapidly developing and changing field. The book will have a relatively narrow audience--those interested in botanical personalities and biogeography and those who are interested in the development of botanical gardens, particularly in England. Well illustrated; the color plates reproduced from various publications of the time are faithful renderings. The text is somewhat dense in appearance, though the typeface is pleasing. General audiences. -D. H. Pfister, Harvard University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
