John Evelyn's "Elysium Britannicum" and European gardening /

The Dumbarton Oaks Colloquia on the History of Landscape Architecture reflect a broad range of interests in garden history. Previous discussions have recorded garden designs of a particular country, individual garden designers, or particular periods in history. This newest volume is a strongly focused work on one individual, John Evelyn (1620-1706), and on a single unpublished document, his "Elysium Britannicum." Evelyn wrote the manuscript over four decades, and it contains a great deal of detailed about the elite garden culture of the 17th century. Evelyn authored many publications, one of which was Sylva (1664), a compilation of thoughts on practical estate management, gardening, and philosophy. He was an advocate of scientific research and discussions concerning the loss of tree cover and the shortage of timber and fuel in Great Britain. In John Evelyn's "Elysium Britannicum" and European Gardening, 12 contributing authors consider areas of garden-related activities that serve the foundation of Evelyn's interests: his international travels, and his garden writings and designs. This book has been edited with great attention and provides a wealth of information for scholars of 17th-century garden culture and social history. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. C. A. Watkins; New Mexico State University