The Tree Hunters: How the Cult of the Arboretum Transformed Our Landscape

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 * For those of us who share a love of trees and history, a new book from Thomas Pakenham will be opened with the anticipation of a 'good read', and this volume does not disappoint. The love of his subject shines through every page . . . The author's style is flowing, very readable and his story-telling abilities are apparent throughout. The academic content provides a sound overview of the subject. The quality of the writing and the innate adventure of the subject matter makes this book accessible to a wider readership . . . What the text achieves very well indeed is to make the connections between the all too human characters, their pursuit of the new and places them firmly in a wider context. This book is a good read and will appeal to armchair travellers, historians and gardeners alike * Garden History *