"The Edwardian garden, with is formal enclosures and exuberant informal planting, is one of the most evocative features of pre-First World War Britain. During this era, staid and geometric Victorian landscapes gave way to picturesque gardens that were laid out architecturally but also contained imaginative touches such as pergolas, trellised roses, herbaceous borders, water gardens, and exotic species imported from the East. The change was greatly accelerated by social and economic developments that provided both a material basis and a social context for the new generation of amateur gardeners. This book by David Ottewill--the first comprehensive study of the Edwardian garden--is both [an] illustrated tour of some of the finest gardens of this period and a survey of the people, attitudes, and theories that influenced their design ..."--Publisher description.