The Pleasure Garden An Illustrated History of British Gardening

by Anne & Osbert Lancaster Scott-James

First published in 1977, The Pleasure Garden is an entertaining and concise history of English gardening by husband and wife team Osbert Lancaster and Anne Scott-James. In a series of beautifully observed and witty cartoon illustrations Osbert Lancaster captures the essence of gardening styles from Roman times through to the twentieth-century patio, as he did for styles of architecture in Pillar to Post and A Cartoon History of Architecture. The accompanying text by Anne Scott-James explains the work of garden-makers and designers and the native and newly arrived plants they used.

Genres: Gardening

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wife and husband team of Anne Scott-James and Osbert Lancaster have produced a really lovely book, easy to read, light in style and a pleasure to the eye.

Their history of gardening begins in Roman times and proceeds through, monastic gardens, Tudor and Jacobean, French, Dutch with tulipmania prevalent, high Victorian, cottage gardens and many others before finishing with the patio garden, the type close to my heart as that is what I have!

Interspersed with the garden design are tales of the botanists who collected specimens and a bibliographical tour through the genre of gardening literature.

It is a veritable paradise for the plantsman and an engrossing read even for the non-gardener such as myself.

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is snowing a blizzard out there and seeing as I'm not in the shop and most jobbies are up-to-date(ish) here I'll set an early fire and settle down on the settee with this and my fidgety dog.

Spring is coming, honest! - in just eight to twelve weeks we shall be in a rainbow, which is always a delight after the chromophobic winter months.

[Hilary West · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very readable and succinct account of the British garden throughout the ages. With delightful cartoons by Osbert Lancaster they provided an ideal accompaniment to the text. To go down this particular garden path was full of blossoming bowers, scented delights and magnificent colours.