Frederick Law Olmsted: Partner with Nature

by Johanna Johnston

A biography of the self-taught landscape architect who designed many large park systems, including the first large city park in America, Central Park in New York.

125 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[franklin johanassberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting this book i was only aware of Fredrick Law Olmsted being a landscape architect. As well as knowing the few things that my professors would preach over and over, that i usually didn’t listen to. Being able to understand the way he lived as a “truant” that would take any opportunity that came across him made me rethink the societal norms of picking a career right out of college then that being what you do till you die.

Some of my favorite quotes from him that will stick with me as a landscape architect were the way he defined a landscape architect as an “artist who sketches the outline for nature to fill in”. As well as the principles he lived by “land-people-and the future”. Both quotes will change and define how I design.

Overall, great book and told his story perfectly. I wish it were longer just so that i could learn more about his life. Also, thought it was strange he married and had kids with his brother’s wife after he passed.

[Katie Lade · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an easy read and introduction to Freddy O but can’t help but feel like some of the details were exaggerated/omitted for a good read (which it was)

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to get started on studying Frederick Law Olmsted and what made him tick. I was surprised to learn that Olmsted was not educated in landscape architecture but was at the right place at the right time. He trained his eye by visiting various European parks and gardens and dabbled at his own farm before putting his muse into history with New York's Central Park, Biltmore, and our own Lake Park (to name a few). I am anxious to read more about him. Who knows, perhaps there's hope for me yet!