The British enthusiasm for gardening has fascinating roots. The Empire and trade across the globe created an obsession with exotic new plants, and showed the power and reach of Britain in the early eighteenth century. At that time, national influence wasn't measured by sporting success, musical or artistic influence. Instead it was expressed in the design of parks and gardens such as Kew and Stowe, and the style of these grand gardens was emulated first throughout Britain and then increasingly around the world. Augusta of Saxe-Gotha arrived in England aged sixteen, speaking barely any English, to be married to the wild Prince Frederick, the reviled eldest son of George II. Her lifelong association with Kew Gardens, and that of her husband and their close friend, Lord Bute, would prove to be one that changed the face of British gardening forever. In this book, Vanessa Berridge tells a tangled tale of royal intrigue, scandal and determination in the Georgian court and draws us into the politically charged world of garden design.

About the Author
Garden historian Vanessa Berridge was launch editor of 'The English Garden' magazine and now writes for newspapers and magazines internationally. In 2019, she won the Garden Media Guild Garden Book of the Year Award for 'Kiftsgate Court Gardens: Three Generations of Women Gardeners' (Merrell, 2019). Her other books include 'The Princess's Garden: Royal Intrigue and the Untold Story of Kew' (Amberley, 2015) and 'Great British Gardeners: From Early Plantsmen to Chelsea Medal Winners' (Amberley, 2018). She lives and gardens in Gloucestershire.

Reviews
'A thundering good read' -- Historic Gardens Review



Book Information
ISBN 9781445660295
Author Vanessa Berridge
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Amberley Publishing
Publisher Amberley Publishing
Weight(grams) 392g