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This book travels back and forth between the author's restoration of a garden in a home she and her husband bought and a general history of gardens.

I was surprised when early on the author states that gardens were a tool of oppression, but she goes on to prove her point by showing the history of how wealthy landowners expanded their properties, reworked the land and otherwise enclosed open areas for themselves, their properties, etc.

I will also state that as much as she rails against the rich, she undercuts her own arguments by illustrating the failure of co-op gardens, liberated 'serfs', etc. to flourish. Nor is she realistic in expecting that everyone should have a garden. She seems to be okay with less technological progress, which have done much to lift up the daily lives of the poor, in favor of individuals not migrating to cities and working on their small plots.

There is also a certain hubris to the author's description of purchasing a varied and various set of plants and flowers for her garden and thinking that's an option for everyone. I appreciate that she doesn't water her garden when England is hit with a major drought and risks losing many of her beloved plants. How she thinks those not as well off as her would manage I don't know.

There was a lot of garden history to be gained by reading this book, but overall, I didn't love it.