This is a lovely book, which sets out the phases of British history through gardening. It begins with the Romans and the original British tribes, to the monks and monasteries, the knights, the Victorians, the World Wars and ends in our age.
Each chapter gives not only the history of gardens and plants, but also the cultural framework and lifestyle for the period. It's a history of plants, flowers, gardens, and a history of the people!
Jenny Uglow is an amazing writer. To me, she is a historian extraordinaire. It is unbelievable how much she knows about the past, and how well she can put that into writing. I have her book The Lunar Men, about a group of scientists in the 18th century (including James Watt and Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles). Though the book is too androcentric for my taste, I am astonished by the incredible historical information inside! Also, Uglow has written an excellent book on beloved writer Jane Austen.
I would easily recommend any book by Jenny Uglow. But I think A Little History is my favorite by far. It's easy and pleasant to read, clever, and informative. The edition is lovely too, and there are some very nice color plates as well. It's a book which will be loved by anyone interested in plants, gardens and history!
Enjoy your weekend, and have beauty always with you! :-)
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