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The Busiest Man in England: The Life of Joseph Paxton, Gardener, Architect, and Victorian Visionary
Today one would be hard pressed to choose a "Pre-eminent Victorian," but among the Victorians themselves it was agreed that one figure towered above the rest. His name was Joseph Paxton (1803--1865), and he bestrode the worlds of horticulture, urban planning, and architecture like a colossus. This was the self-taught polymath who had a solution to every large-scale logistical problem, the genius whom an impossibly overworked Charles Dickens dubbed "The Busiest Man in England."
Rising quickly from humble beginnings, Paxton, at age 23, became head gardener and architect at Chatsworth, the estate of the sixth Duke of Devonshire. Under Paxton's direction, Chatsworth was transformed into the greatest garden in England, a paradise of magnificent greenhouses, gravity-defying fountains, and innovative waterworks. Queen Victoria herself came to marvel; here was Britain's answer to the hanging gardens of Babylon.
But it was the Crystal Palace, home of the Great Exhibition of 1851, that secured Paxton's fame. Two thousand men worked for eight months to complete this unprecedented temporary structure of iron and glass. It was six times the size of St. Paul's Cathedral, and entertained six million visitors. In the wake of its spectacular success, Paxton was in constant demand to design public buildings and propose ways to ease congestion in London, then the world's most populous city.
An artist among researchers, Kate Colquhoun handles her complex subject as if she were born to biography. She tells the compelling story of a man who embodied the Victorian ideals of self-improvement, industry, and civic service, and paints a touching portrait of a remarkably down-to-earth visionary.
Rising quickly from humble beginnings, Paxton, at age 23, became head gardener and architect at Chatsworth, the estate of the sixth Duke of Devonshire. Under Paxton's direction, Chatsworth was transformed into the greatest garden in England, a paradise of magnificent greenhouses, gravity-defying fountains, and innovative waterworks. Queen Victoria herself came to marvel; here was Britain's answer to the hanging gardens of Babylon.
But it was the Crystal Palace, home of the Great Exhibition of 1851, that secured Paxton's fame. Two thousand men worked for eight months to complete this unprecedented temporary structure of iron and glass. It was six times the size of St. Paul's Cathedral, and entertained six million visitors. In the wake of its spectacular success, Paxton was in constant demand to design public buildings and propose ways to ease congestion in London, then the world's most populous city.
An artist among researchers, Kate Colquhoun handles her complex subject as if she were born to biography. She tells the compelling story of a man who embodied the Victorian ideals of self-improvement, industry, and civic service, and paints a touching portrait of a remarkably down-to-earth visionary.
303 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Kate Colquhoun
7 books23 followersKate Colquhoun is a biographer and historian. Her first book A Thing in Disguise: the visionary life of Joseph Paxton (Fourth Estate, 2003) was shortlisted for the Duff Cooper prize, nominated for the Samuel Johnson award and was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. Other books include Taste: the history of Britain through its cooking (Bloomsbury, 2007) and The Thrifty Cookbook: 476 Ways to eat well with leftovers (Bloomsbury, 2009).
Mr Briggs’ Hat (Little, Brown, 2011) was shortlisted for a Crime Writers’ Association silver dagger award, translated widely and filmed for BBC TV. Her next book Did She Kill Him? (Little, Brown 2014), investigates the story of Florence Maybrick, an American ingénue tried for the murder of her older cotton-broker husband James in Liverpool in 1889.
Kate reviews and writes widely for the national papers, particularly the Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph. She helped to make The Truth about Food for Channel 4’s Dispatches series, and appears often on radio and TV. She particularly loved teaching Faber Academy’s narrative non-fiction course in 2011. For her next project, Kate will investigate gender equality around the world, asking ‘How Equal is Almost Equal?’ She lives in west London with her two sons.
Mr Briggs’ Hat (Little, Brown, 2011) was shortlisted for a Crime Writers’ Association silver dagger award, translated widely and filmed for BBC TV. Her next book Did She Kill Him? (Little, Brown 2014), investigates the story of Florence Maybrick, an American ingénue tried for the murder of her older cotton-broker husband James in Liverpool in 1889.
Kate reviews and writes widely for the national papers, particularly the Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph. She helped to make The Truth about Food for Channel 4’s Dispatches series, and appears often on radio and TV. She particularly loved teaching Faber Academy’s narrative non-fiction course in 2011. For her next project, Kate will investigate gender equality around the world, asking ‘How Equal is Almost Equal?’ She lives in west London with her two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 11, 2014
Adored the book! One of the great biographies ever of a most surprisingly versatile and talented man who rose from low the highest place in England and France in his field of architecture and garden design. His extraordinary mind and great friendships--with people such as the Duke of Devonshire and Charles Dickens--make for a grand tale. Wonderfully written and interesting on all counts.
August 7, 2016
One of the most beautiful architecture EVER!! Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) was the indispensable man, the self-taught polymath and can-do pragmatist who had a solution to every large-scale logistical problem. Paxton, at age twenty-three, became head gardener and architect at Chatsworth, the estate of the sixth Duke of Devonshire. Under Paxton's hands, Chatsworth was transformed into the greatest garden in England, a paradise of enormous and beautiful greenhouses, gravity-defying waterworks, and exotic botanical wonders. The world, even Queen Victoria herself, came to marvel: here was Britain's answer to the hanging gardens of Babylon.
It was Paxton's design for the Crystal Palace, home of the Great Exhibition of 1851, that secured his immortality. Sadly, Prince Albert died in 1851 before seeing this magnificent building made of glass and iron. It only took 2,000 men to build the building in 8 months.
Images -- https://classconnection.s3.amazonaws....
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...
coins from Crystal Palace -- http://www.arminius-numismatics.com/c...
Queen Victoria & Prince Albert coins -- http://www.arminius-numismatics.com/c...
It was Paxton's design for the Crystal Palace, home of the Great Exhibition of 1851, that secured his immortality. Sadly, Prince Albert died in 1851 before seeing this magnificent building made of glass and iron. It only took 2,000 men to build the building in 8 months.
Images -- https://classconnection.s3.amazonaws....
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...
coins from Crystal Palace -- http://www.arminius-numismatics.com/c...
Queen Victoria & Prince Albert coins -- http://www.arminius-numismatics.com/c...
May 18, 2010
"Magnificent.... Kate Colquhoun produces much that is original, and in telling the story of one of the most remarkable Englishmen, sheds abundant light on the period he adorned."
– A. N. Wilson, New Statesman
"Superb. . . This elegantly illustrated, admirably succinct biography is written with true Paxtonian verve. Praise comes no higher."
– John Carey, The Sunday Times
"Kate Colquhoun uses personal papers and extensive research to provide a well-rounded biography of the man's personal and public life alike – and amazingly, it's her first book. An outstanding, detailed production displays the prowess of a fine writer."
– California Bookwatch
"Kate Colquhoun's masterful biography of Paxton more than does justice to this remarkable overachiever."
– Natural History Magazine
– A. N. Wilson, New Statesman
"Superb. . . This elegantly illustrated, admirably succinct biography is written with true Paxtonian verve. Praise comes no higher."
– John Carey, The Sunday Times
"Kate Colquhoun uses personal papers and extensive research to provide a well-rounded biography of the man's personal and public life alike – and amazingly, it's her first book. An outstanding, detailed production displays the prowess of a fine writer."
– California Bookwatch
"Kate Colquhoun's masterful biography of Paxton more than does justice to this remarkable overachiever."
– Natural History Magazine
October 3, 2022
Paxton may or may not have been the busiest man in England, but when someone as impossibly industrious as Charles Dickens draws the distinction….Well, he must’ve been pretty darn busy. An excellent book about an amazing era.
I’ve recently written about Paxton (and his bequest to modern architecture); read here: https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily...
I’ve recently written about Paxton (and his bequest to modern architecture); read here: https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily...
December 26, 2011
What a wonderful tie-in to my mild obsession with the Devonshires. Paxton did his greatest work for the then-present Duke. I loved how he influenced the fashions in gardening and the architechture of glass houses. What a pity his greatest work was destroyed by fire!
February 17, 2020
Joseph Paxton is a towering figure in the Victorian age and this book definitely brings him to life. Unbounded energy and a endearing disposition carried him from very humble origins to the pinnacle of Victorian and European society. Well written by Kate Colquhoun, author of Taste: The Story of Britain Through Its Cooking, I would recommend The Busiest Man in England for anyone interested in how Paxton revolutionized the gardens at Chatsworth and beyond, to say nothing of the Crystal Palace(s).
March 13, 2017
This book is a whirlwind tour of Paxton's diverse projects across gardening, architecture, global trade, publishing, railroad development, political office, and civil works. For Victoriana enthusiasts and botanists, this is a riveting read. You may want to supplement your reading with a map of 1800's English/European estates to better understand his commute.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews