Jane Brown's 'The English Garden in Our Time' was first published in 1966. It was the first book to attempt to desribe the influences upon gardens and their design from the heyday of Gertrude Jekyll, one hundred years ago, to the innovative ideas of Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe. This new edition, retitled 'The English Garden Through the Twentieth Century' was revised to bring the story up-to-date, and add many new colour pictures. The opening chapter gives a detailed description of Gertrude Jekyll's life at Munstead Wood followed by the story of the garden world she masterminded, the Arts and Crafts gardens and her work with Edwin Lutyens and other famous architects. Chapter 3 is devoted to the Arts and Crafts set piece, Rodmarton Manor. The following 4 chapters explore the lavish influences upon gardens during the 30s, and after the Second World War - the influences of Italian style, the Modern Movement, of the making of Sissinghusrt Castle's garden, and of Hidcote Manor and the 'new Georgians'.
The chapter on post modern gardens brings important trends up to date, and the 2 final chapters seek to explain something of Geoffrey Jellicoe's philosophy of design, ending with a detailed description of his designs fro Sutton Place in Surrey. Each chapter has suggestions for further reading and this is an essential book for anyone who has any interest in the most popular pastime of the century.
