One more wonderful historical novel from Philippa Gregory, this time about John Tradescant, the true life gardener for Robert Cecil and Lord Buckingham, after Queen Elizabeth I and during the reigns of King Charles I and King James II, covering 1603-1638. Tradescant developed amazing gardens for his masters, collecting unique plants from all over the world. I read someplace that author Gregory got into gardening herself after researching for this book. The details about the process of gardening and the planning of the large formal gardens was fascinating. Tradescant not only brought a lot of unique plants to England, including chestnuts, but he also furthered the art of garden design, modifying the formal patterns of the day. (Here's another book I'd like to look at with some illustrations.)
As usual, I was fascinated with the historical details. Politics hasn't changed much over the centuries. It is amazing how inept some rulers can be, sending their soldiers into unnecessary wars ill prepared (in this case with no food supplies or tents), and how people behind the scenes are the ones with the real power.
The Holland tulip business was described, with rare bulbs being worth their wieght in gold. A whole market economy grew up around them with trades and futures, and when it crashed, it really crashed, but obviously Holland has continued trading in tulip bulbs up to this day.
I continue to enjoy the glimpses into the private lives - the choosing of mates, the courtship (or early betrothal), their lives together. Tradescant's wife would relate to today's wives, whose husbands have a demanding job and have to travel a lot.
I'm glad there is a sequel to this, which I hope to get to soon.
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