The Wildest Place on Earth: Italian Gardens and the Invention of Wilderness

by John Hanson Mitchell

A compelling inquiry of the meaning of wilderness follows the author's exploration of local landscapes such as a hedge maze and town parks in search of that essential contact with nature. This is the ironic story of how Italian Renaissance and Baroque gardens encouraged the preservation of the American wilderness and ultimately fostered the creation of the world's first national park system. Told via Mitchell's sometimes disastrous and humorous travels--from the gardens of southern Italy up through Tuscany and the lake island gardens--the book is filled with history, folklore, myths, and legends of Western Europe, including a detailed history of the labyrinth, a common element in Renaissance gardens. In his attempt to understand the Italian garden in detail, Mitchell set out to create one on his own property--with a labyrinth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Italy, Gardening

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Author of six books dealing with the experince of place and natural history. Most recent book is The Paradise of al These Parts: A natural history of Boston (Beacon Press 2008).

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Reviews

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm split over this book. I expected something very different. It was recommended to me by a colleague, and overall, it was enjoyable. The subtitle (Italian Gardens and the Invention of Wilderness) had me convinced it would actually be about Italian gardens. It was only glancingly--through the lens of famous American authors who have been inspired by Italian gardens. Which is fine in itself, but I wanted to actually learn about the gardens' histories themselves. I also get the feeling that the author, and indeed the editors, couldn't really decide what this book was about. Was it about gardening in Massachusetts, was it about the author's love affair with the Greek god Pan, was it about living in the frightening face of always-marching suburbia, was it about European garden style, Edith Wharton's life and Italian writings, or was it about AJ Downing's influence on gardening and architecture in America? Really all these things...and often they all pointed in different directions.

Things I liked: That for once we have a "wildness" writer that didn't shrink and just run away to a further-flung wilderness in the face of oncoming suburbia. He did the hard thing--he stayed and made his acreage all the more special and detailed to him. I think there are lessons to be learned from the horticultural designers of old, and he was updating a few of them in the wake of the imploding American wilderness myth we're all so fond of.
There were also other magical little moments here. The dead bear cub scene, the Midsummer Night's Dream scene. I liked his process for building his maze. Not unpleasurable, as I sped through it in less than a day.

Things I didn't like: Very few images, and what there were were mini contemporary line-drawings, more evocative of the chapter titles than illustrative of the book's actual material. I really, really wanted a couple of images (historical line drawings/maps would have been great) to set in stone the difference between French garden parterres and Italian formal design, for instance.
I was also bothered by his tone in particular points, especially when it came to talking about women. He doesn't seem to have a basic grasp on women as people. Through most of the book, he called his fiancee his "betrothed," his "affianced." This is funny in an off-handed way for a few times, but then you need to get over it and call her by her name. Seriously.

Oh, and my biggest pet peeve of ALL: Mitchell doesn't have one citation, nor bibliographic entry, in the ENTIRE book. He enters into all kinds of debates, deals with many 19th century horticulturists, etc. Was this total lack of citation his idea or his editor's? Either way, it stinks. What person that actually picks up this book would EVER be turned off by a short biblio in the back? EERRGGG.

This book did make me want to get a hold of Edith Wharton's *Italian Villas and Their Gardens*. And perhaps continue my search to know a bit more about actual Italian garden history.

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if was as interested in Italian gardens as ol’ John here. A lot of bits of garden-related history that started to blur together for me after a while. Nevertheless, a creatively organized and thought provoking book about what wilderness really is and where the heart of it can be found in an increasingly industrialized world.

[Rick Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting ramble through the history of 'wildness' and attempts to capture that sense of wildness in planned gardens of the last few centuries. A good book for reflection and to open ones eyes to the effect a good garden plan can have on the visitor.

[iris loehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

i hope he adds me back on facebook so i can ask for pictures of the maze

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caution: this book is going to make you want to garden, create a labyrinth, and travel extensively in Italy. It was a little all-over-the-place at times, but I really enjoyed it. (But I will admit to loving any book that includes Pan as one of its main themes.) I didn't always agree with the author and his views on 'wilderness', but I appreciated the fact that he felt like you could create a place in nature for yourself anywhere - its all about how you relate to the land.

[David Radavich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming book, tracing the rich and varied history of Italian gardens and the ancient labyrinths and linking both to the author's own efforts on his Massachusetts property. At times the writing seems a bit coy and self-indulgent, and the ending seemed abrupt. But there's much to enjoy in this delightful work.

[shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

After 14 years I have finally read one of Clayton's fathers books! I'm not sure what took me so long. I really enjoyed this book about gardens, labyrinth, Pan and exploration of what wilderness really means.

[Ellenw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book changed the way I think about the world I live in. But it's worth reading just for the gardening history and his stories about his house and family.