Description

For centuries, English country gentlemen had collected exotic pictures for their saloons and rare books for their libraries. By the end of the seventeenth century, they had begun to collect trees. Within the space of a few years, hundreds of new specimen trees enriched the British landscape, and demand was high for the most splendid imports: maples and tulip trees from the American colonies, cypresses and cedars from Europe and Lebanon, and oriental plane from Greece and Turkey, with its romantic associations with Plato’s Academy.

How did these extraordinary trees make their way to the gardens of Britain and Ireland? Who were the scholars and daredevils who combed the new and old worlds in search of green treasure? What crimes did they commit, and what price did they pay to bring the world’s charismatic megaflora to the gardens of home?

In this exuberant history, Thomas Pakenham reveals the marvellous tales of adventure, discovery, rivalry, and passion that created the modern British landscape.

Publisher Review

Delightful and adventure-packed . . . I feel indebted to Pakenham for reminding us about the exploits fuelled by rivalry, courage and passion that have helped to populate the British landscape with such glorious – and enduring – giants — Miranda Seymour * FT * Pakenham is a brilliant storyteller . . . A very readable account of an influential period in botanical history * The English Garden * A rollicking, riveting, hugely entertaining tale of the remarkable people who literally risked life and limb in pursuit of new species of trees to introduce into cultivate in Britain and Ireland, it’s both fascinating and poignant * Irish Times * Goes a long way to explaining why our landscape looks the way it does . . . This splendid work will allow us to walk around parks and gardens with a much greater understanding and see them in a new light – very special * Country Life * [Written in] the same clear style that made his Meeting With Remarkable Trees a bestseller . . . ventures beyond the usual stories of the usual heroes — Robin Lane Fox * FT * It is joy – in trees of all their variety – which suffuses this book. Pakenham loves his trees . . . The Tree Hunters is, like Pakenham’s earlier books, beautifully written and enjoyable to read. It radiates pleasure in its subject, which is really the trees themselves. They adorn the gardens of Britain and Ireland, as they do gardens throughout the world, and are well worth the attention which this book gives them. — Roderick Floud * HISTORY TODAY * Combines [Pakenham’s] love of history with his passion for trees — Harry Mount * Telegraph * These stories of tree collectors and plant hunters have been told before but never so wonderfully nor in so enjoyable a manner. There is a gift in turning the dry facts of history into a living, relevant and enjoyable narrative and this is Thomas Pakenham’s gift to us who have an interest in gardening, in trees and in the wonderful background stories and people related to them . . . With the love and enthusiasm, and the experience of collecting and growing trees himself, Thomas Pakenham has given us one of the most informative and enjoyable horticultural books one could imagine. This is a treasure! — Paddy Tobin * An Irish Gardener *