A cultural history of gardens /

This collection of scholarly essays is filled with fascinating examples of significant gardens from ancient history to modern times and explores why the gardens were created and how they were used and represented in the arts. While each volume focuses on a specific time period, they all have a similar format, with an introductory overview followed by chapters titled "Design," "Types of Gardens," "Plantings," "Use and Reception," "Meaning," "Verbal Representations," "Visual Representations," and "Gardens and the Larger Landscape." These chapters were written by a wide-ranging group of international experts, primarily from the fields of landscape architecture, art history, literature, and history. Hunt (emer., Univ. of Pennsylvania) also wrote A World of Gardens (CH, Jan'13, 50-2650) and several other collections of essays on garden history. Leslie (English, Rhodes College) has previously written about designed landscapes of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.While not a typical encyclopedia or reference work, this set of books could provide a good starting point for students researching gardens within a specific period, particularly due to the rich cultural context provided, as well as the extensive bibliographies, notes, and indexes included at the end of each volume. The set's unusual format also allows students to focus on a particular topic, such as garden types, and follow that topic through several volumes to better understand the changes and diversification of gardens over time. Black-and-white images enhance most chapters; however, the volumes lack color illustrations. Geographic coverage is also somewhat limited, with a major emphasis on gardens throughout Europe and North America. While chapter authors are experts in their fields, their writing styles vary considerably, so some chapters are more accessible for students than others. Overall, however, this unique set provides thought-provoking essays and extensive references that will be valuable for readers researching the roles and representations of gardens throughout the past 2, 500 years. Geared primarily toward advanced students and professionals in landscape architecture, the work may also be useful for students in art history, architecture, history, literature, and related interdisciplinary courses. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. N. Sprague University of Idaho

Leslie (Rhodes Coll., founding editor, The Journal of Garden History) and John Dixon Hunt (history and theory of landscape, emeritus, Univ. of Pennsylvania; editor, Studies in the History of Gardens and Designed Landscapes) place the garden in a cultural context by looking at design, garden types, planting, use, meaning, the portrayal of gardens in art and literature, and gardens within the larger landscape. The material illustrates the variety of uses to which gardens have been put, describing, for example, how some gardens were used for the production of food, some monastic spaces were intended for meditation, and orchards, vineyards, and fields provided produce. Public spaces might show the reach of empires through exotic imports, exhibit engineering feats of rooftop gardens and elaborate fountains, or provide a connection to nature in the midst of the urban environment. The chronological volumes cover antiquity, the medieval age, the Renaissance, the age of enlightenment, the age of empire, and the modern age. The first two volumes, which detail gardens in antiquity and medieval times, use archaeological evidence, literature, and art to compile descriptions of the known designs and uses of garden spaces. The subsequent volumes benefit from the authors' access to more documentation, including gardening books and planning documents indicating plant selection and hydrology. Age of Empire looks at public spaces that showcased the power of the state or provided peaceful sanctuary in crowded, industrializing cities. Gardens in the Modern Age looks at the work of landscape architects and collective, vernacular, and public parks. The later volumes refer to a greater number of artistic representations and photographs. Each volume includes bibliographies, indexes, and notes. VERDICT A wonderful resource for people interested in landscape architecture or anyone looking for an in-depth exploration of the cultural significance of gardens.--Susanne Caro, Univ. of Montana Lib., Missoula (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.