Originally published March 3, 2016, this book is a biography using gardens that Shakespeare was very familiar with at different times in his life. It’s just bursting with beautifully done photos and information on the bard and many of the flowers and plants that he often worked into his writings. It’s a great look at the various types of gardens that were around in Shakespeare’s time, and how they’ve evolved. This is put together for the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death for those that are interested in him and gardening. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Jackie Bennett, and the publisher.

This is a lovely, visually appealing book about the gardens that Shakespeare is said to have explored, the inspirations behind some of his work in this regard. As the blurb states, "More than four centuries after the playwright lived, whenever we think of thyme, violets or roses, we more often than not still remember a quote from the 39 plays and 154 sonnets written by him." I think that this sums up the impact of Shakespeare on literary culture quite well. At the same time, his influence has translated into the upkeep of memorials and sites of interest, like the gardens shown here. I am delighted to say that this book is quite interesting and visually beautiful. I would suggest it to gardening fans as well as those who are Shakespeare enthusiasts.

I can smell the sweetness and feel the warmth on my face. I want a bench in any one of these beautiful gardens. The images are vivid, luscious and breathtaking. So much color to soak up in one place. I enjoyed the historical notes and learning more about Shakespeare in the process. The inclusion of verses from his sonnets with images of the particular herb or flower was a delight as well. I received a copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

Freshened up for 2021, I can see this being a quite compelling gift book bought for plant-lovers from many Shakespeare locales across Stratford and beyond. We start with a scattering of the royal parks and gardens Shakespeare would have known, once he reached society and got to act in front of whoever was on the throne, which would normally have been on an appropriate space in their own grounds. From there we zone in on Stratford, and get the history of the grounds on Henley Street that surround his birthplace, before Mary Arden's Farm, New Place and the rest get the same highly pictorial look. Elsewhere, box-out styled interruptions focus on specifics – garden herbs and their uses in the writer's time, roses, daffodils, etc. Throughout the photographic qualities are to the fore, with attractive shots across a variety of seasons adding to historical sketches and close-ups of relevant growth. Suitably balancing the interest of someone versed in Shakespeare with a hobbyist gardener and perhaps someone keen on learning historical garden trends and methods, such as how the working farmland became the prettier if not wholly practical cottage garden, this does a lot of things and does them all well.

A wonderful look into Shakespeare's Gardens! Filled with gorgeous photos and facts, this was such an interesting read! Definitely a fun read for anyone interested in gardens or Shakespeare!

Shakespeare’s Gardens is such a visually appealing book! I loved the many photos and their evocation of places and other times. I also like that this title examines different places in Shakespeare’s life, not just the well known Anne Hathaway’s cottage. There are chapters on Tudor Gardens, Shakespeare’s birth place, Mary Arden’s farm, Hall Croft and more in addition to the home of Anne. There is a lot to learn in a book that seems like a nice accompaniment for fans of Hamnet, among others.

The author points out that Shakespeare not only lived during exciting historical times but also in a time of richness for gardens with imports from Peru, Mexico and Asia, for example. The appearance in Shakespeare’s plays of common garden elements and the flowers of his time is also noted in the helpful introduction. The book goes on to be very informative and interesting. I recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.