Inventing the Garden

A history of the garden is a history of civilization. With these Western gardens, architects Virgilio Vercelloni (1930–1995) and Matteo Vercelloni describe the development of the garden from ancient Persia to modern-day Manhattan. For the authors, gardens are never merely collections of plants. They are lenses through which we can perceive the aesthetics, intellectual fashions, and prevailing politics of the day. From ancient Persia to contemporary California, the authors tell the fascinating story of how gardens have been shaped by historic figures, architectural styles, scientific enthusiasms, and sociological and political movements. With its generous illustrations and large format (10-in.×12-in.), it strikes a nice balance between being a scholarly survey of the field and a lavishly illustrated introduction. 428 color and b&w illus. (Mar.)