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Jane Austen's Garden: A Botanical Tour of the Classic Novels
A celebration of Jane Austen’s life and literature as told through the flowers, plants, and landscapes that inspired her.
Through explorations of the botanical inspirations and symbolism in Austen’s work and personal life, as well as historical information about the gardens and landscapes of the Regency Era, Jane Austen’s Garden will transport readers back in time to the lush English landscape of the early 1800s. Included in the narrative are DIY gardening projects to help you create a home garden worthy of a surprise visit from Lady Catherine de Bourgh or maybe just give your office plant setup a bit of historical flair. Accessible, entertaining, and enhanced by the enchanted illustrations of celebrated artist Jessica Roux, Jane Austen’s Garden is a fun twist on a familiar subject that will delight plant lovers and Janeites alike.
Through explorations of the botanical inspirations and symbolism in Austen’s work and personal life, as well as historical information about the gardens and landscapes of the Regency Era, Jane Austen’s Garden will transport readers back in time to the lush English landscape of the early 1800s. Included in the narrative are DIY gardening projects to help you create a home garden worthy of a surprise visit from Lady Catherine de Bourgh or maybe just give your office plant setup a bit of historical flair. Accessible, entertaining, and enhanced by the enchanted illustrations of celebrated artist Jessica Roux, Jane Austen’s Garden is a fun twist on a familiar subject that will delight plant lovers and Janeites alike.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published March 11, 2025
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654 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 11, 2025
I enjoyed "Jane Austen's Garden" quite a bit! This beautifully illustrated book had a very different angle on most of the Austen non-fiction - to wit, a discussion of the garden references in her main novels along with informative tutorials and related "how to's" on gardening & crafts. While I personally can't do much of this particular gardening due to my desert location, I did enjoy reading about it & looking at all the amazing and lovely botanical illustrations - so beautiful!
February 20, 2025
When I was in high school, I fell in love with the Regency Era through Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Over the next thirty-plus years, I’ve read every single word of Austen’s collected works. I’m also rural and do a ton of gardening. So, when I saw “Jane Austen’s Garden: A Botanical Tour of the Classic Novels” by Molly Williams, I knew that I had to read it.
This book was illustrated by Jessica Roux and, let me tell you, the artwork is absolutely breathtaking. There are numerous chapters on this book focusing on subjects like “Hedgerows” and “Parks,” which were common during the era and remain so to this day.
Williams retrieved snippets of text from Austen’s six major novels and personal letters that focus on gardening—vegetables, fruits, flowers, and trees—and on what I term the British gardening experience. For example, taking tours of country estates, which is a habit that continues to this day by a multitude of British citizens.
In the “Cultivating Jane” sections that appear throughout the book, Williams gives readers instructions on how to recreate the Regency feel in their own homes. For example, how to make faux flowers and how to create lavender water.
The author also includes instructions on how to shape a boxwood topiary. However, it’s a shame that Williams didn’t address the current and ongoing box blight crisis that very well could destroy the topiary that you make. The author included some excellent text from Austen’s novels. However, on several occasions, she reuses information that she previously cited at earlier places in the book.
Despite these minor issues, I can easily see this beautifully illustrated book becoming a go-to gift for fans of Jane Austen. Besides the writing and the illustrations, this book’s layout and the fonts used are absolutely perfect; whomever designed this book deserves a round of applause! This is a book that should be offered for sale at gardening centers everywhere.
I received an ARC of “Jane Austen’s Garden: A Botanical Tour of the Classic Novels” by Molly Williams from NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book was illustrated by Jessica Roux and, let me tell you, the artwork is absolutely breathtaking. There are numerous chapters on this book focusing on subjects like “Hedgerows” and “Parks,” which were common during the era and remain so to this day.
Williams retrieved snippets of text from Austen’s six major novels and personal letters that focus on gardening—vegetables, fruits, flowers, and trees—and on what I term the British gardening experience. For example, taking tours of country estates, which is a habit that continues to this day by a multitude of British citizens.
In the “Cultivating Jane” sections that appear throughout the book, Williams gives readers instructions on how to recreate the Regency feel in their own homes. For example, how to make faux flowers and how to create lavender water.
The author also includes instructions on how to shape a boxwood topiary. However, it’s a shame that Williams didn’t address the current and ongoing box blight crisis that very well could destroy the topiary that you make. The author included some excellent text from Austen’s novels. However, on several occasions, she reuses information that she previously cited at earlier places in the book.
Despite these minor issues, I can easily see this beautifully illustrated book becoming a go-to gift for fans of Jane Austen. Besides the writing and the illustrations, this book’s layout and the fonts used are absolutely perfect; whomever designed this book deserves a round of applause! This is a book that should be offered for sale at gardening centers everywhere.
I received an ARC of “Jane Austen’s Garden: A Botanical Tour of the Classic Novels” by Molly Williams from NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 7, 2025
Flowers and herbs, fruits and vegetables, mazes and ponds, delightful conservatories and wide parklands. Welcome to 1800's England. In this beautifully illustrated coffee table book we're exploring the natural world as described in Jane Austen's novels.
Packed with general information, craft projects, history and architectural delights, this book is sheer joy. The writing is engaging, the chapters short enough to hold the reader's attention, the craft projects easy to follow.
A helpful Regency Horticultural Language glossary is included.
Jane Austen's Garden is one to leave out on your table and keep browsing to your heart's content, so pretty!
Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC.
Packed with general information, craft projects, history and architectural delights, this book is sheer joy. The writing is engaging, the chapters short enough to hold the reader's attention, the craft projects easy to follow.
A helpful Regency Horticultural Language glossary is included.
Jane Austen's Garden is one to leave out on your table and keep browsing to your heart's content, so pretty!
Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC.
March 11, 2025
Lacking a garden of my own, I admit that I liked this book basically because it seems to have been written a couple of centuries ago ( I mean with respect to the type of drawings and fonts used). Otherwise I admit to a weakness I have for anything that is in any way related to Jane Austen directly or indirectly.
In mancanza di un mio giardino, ammetto che questo libro mi é piaciuto fondamentalmente perché sembra scritto un paio di secoli fa ( intendo rispetto al tipo dei disegni e di font utilizzati). Per il resto ammetto una mia debolezza per tutto quello che sia in qualche modo collegato a Jane Austen in modo diretto o indiretto.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
In mancanza di un mio giardino, ammetto che questo libro mi é piaciuto fondamentalmente perché sembra scritto un paio di secoli fa ( intendo rispetto al tipo dei disegni e di font utilizzati). Per il resto ammetto una mia debolezza per tutto quello che sia in qualche modo collegato a Jane Austen in modo diretto o indiretto.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
May 3, 2025
As a dilettante Janeite and gardener, I couldn’t resist a prettily illustrated volume with such a title as Jane Austen’s Garden. Gardener, Molly Williams decided to pair her knowledge of botany with her knowledgeable love of Jane Austen and her novels. This book is a love affair to Jane Austen and gardens.
This giftable, coffee table-style book with its eye-catching illustrations and formatting is broken into easy read sections: Intro, The Flower Garden, The Kitchen Garden, The Conservatory, The Parkland, The Hedgerow, Afternote, and Glossary. In these sections, there are little inserts showing lovely Regency DIY projects like make your own Lavender Water or design your own nosegay Posey.
The major sections provide explanations of general English garden history or specifics into the plants that were prevalent in Jane Austen’s day related to locales in a Regency era person’s life from thistles, to herbs, to fruits, to bushes, to trees. There quotes from the novels or Austen’s letters and then discourses on the plants mentioned in the quotes. The explanations and notes do not delve deep into the background of the novels or gardening so a new gardener or new to Austen reader can appreciate what they are reading. This does mean that anyone looking for scholarly level detail should probably look elsewhere. I also found the terms and glossary a good summation of some of the concepts found in the body of the book.
As to the illustrations of plants and artistic renderings from the Regency, they are lovely and I enjoyed perusing them throughout the book. I enjoyed seeing the drawings of the plants with the discussion of how it grows, its history, and where it’s found in Austen letters or novels.
Jane Austen’s Garden is aimed at those who wish to page through a joint-topic book for a light appreciation experience. And, this I did. I learned something of Regency era gardening and botanical beauty, how the people of the era thought about their natural world and plants, and I enjoyed seeing the notes of how Jane Austen brought her love of the such into her novels and letters. Again, the audience is the lay person lover of Austen and nature and this would make a lovely gift.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at The Quill Ink 4.24.25.
This giftable, coffee table-style book with its eye-catching illustrations and formatting is broken into easy read sections: Intro, The Flower Garden, The Kitchen Garden, The Conservatory, The Parkland, The Hedgerow, Afternote, and Glossary. In these sections, there are little inserts showing lovely Regency DIY projects like make your own Lavender Water or design your own nosegay Posey.
The major sections provide explanations of general English garden history or specifics into the plants that were prevalent in Jane Austen’s day related to locales in a Regency era person’s life from thistles, to herbs, to fruits, to bushes, to trees. There quotes from the novels or Austen’s letters and then discourses on the plants mentioned in the quotes. The explanations and notes do not delve deep into the background of the novels or gardening so a new gardener or new to Austen reader can appreciate what they are reading. This does mean that anyone looking for scholarly level detail should probably look elsewhere. I also found the terms and glossary a good summation of some of the concepts found in the body of the book.
As to the illustrations of plants and artistic renderings from the Regency, they are lovely and I enjoyed perusing them throughout the book. I enjoyed seeing the drawings of the plants with the discussion of how it grows, its history, and where it’s found in Austen letters or novels.
Jane Austen’s Garden is aimed at those who wish to page through a joint-topic book for a light appreciation experience. And, this I did. I learned something of Regency era gardening and botanical beauty, how the people of the era thought about their natural world and plants, and I enjoyed seeing the notes of how Jane Austen brought her love of the such into her novels and letters. Again, the audience is the lay person lover of Austen and nature and this would make a lovely gift.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at The Quill Ink 4.24.25.
February 25, 2025
A perfect gift book for any Janeite who also loves gardens. The illustrations are glorious and I learned so much about the many gardens that figured in Austen's famed novels. I absolutely loved it!
February 17, 2025
Many thanks to the Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica Roux is one of my favourite book illustrators and as a lover of Jane Austen, this immediately caught my interest. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to have an early glimpse of this; the artwork throughout is unsurprisingly stunning and author Molly Williams does a lovely job of providing as various aspects of regency gardens.
Here is the crux though; it has quite a lot of different things to offer and this can be both a good or a bad thing depending on what you are looking for in this book. It was largely not what I personally was looking for, but it might be the perfect blend for someone else. Aesthetics aside, this book delivers interesting history and a bit of trivia on plants (including fruit, vegetables and herbs), guides on how to recreate aspects of regency gardening and homegrown food for yourself as well as highlighting when and where they are relevant in Austen's novels. In addition, it also gives a bit of a background to Austen's life and once again, how gardens and botanics might have fit into the picture.
I think that for a DIY garden enthusiast, a Jane Austen and botanical history fan, this may very well be the perfect book and would make a lovely gift. I myself was expecting less guides (there were a few too many to make this feel like a book beyond a tutorial) and perhaps more on the relevance and history. For example, Williams mentions in her introduction that a modern reader might have a different image of the gardens described in Austen's books due to a slight shift in how names are used in modern times. I would have loved to hear and see more of that - you have a lovely illustrator at hand and while the book is full of them, they were more pretty than practical. I'd have love illustrations actually highlighting of what it would have looked like as the author had already raised this issue.
May 5, 2025
This book needed another round of editing. Molly Williams repeats herself a lot. If she hadn't repeated herself so much, she could have gone deeper into the meanings of the plants and how Jane Austen uses them in her books. There is only superficial discussion of the language of flowers and plants. The gardening glossary in the back is useful. The sections on each plant are fine but still superficial. I think I learned more about gardening from reading various annotated editions of Jane Austen's works than I did in a book dedicated to the topic. This proves my point that she didn't need a longer book, just stronger writing. There are also no proper citations or works cited pages. I did like hearing about the modern conservation efforts. Her attempts at incorporating quotes from the book and explaining their context confused me because I don't think some of the scenarios played out the way she describes them. It's sloppy.
April 5, 2025
The illustrations by Jessica Roux are charmingly beautiful, as always. Unfortunately much of the book felt like the author had a page minimum requirement to fill and she did that with arts and crafts (without photos or a good enough explanation).
The description of the book sounded like it would be more botanical - putting these plants into the context of Jane’s actual world. By “context” what was meant was sharing passages of Jane’s own writing with the specific plant names in bold. Excellent idea, not great execution.
The description of the book sounded like it would be more botanical - putting these plants into the context of Jane’s actual world. By “context” what was meant was sharing passages of Jane’s own writing with the specific plant names in bold. Excellent idea, not great execution.
Read
April 8, 2025the content of this book includes passages from jane austen novels, instructions on historic decorations (e.g., posy, pomander), brief history of each plant. i enjoyed it much more than i expected, and makes me want to see ren fairs even more. now i can't believe that i have never read any jane austen and would like to start. (one felt as though one had already become acquainted with the stories through a sort of intellectual osmosis and their many adaptations.) i appreciate this book notes any nomenclature in the novels that differs from today's usage.
2 fun facts:
grapes in Georgian and Regency England (wealthy households) "were used to create massive, sometimes table-long centerpieces, to which guests would help themselves."
there's a type of 'invisible' fence called ha-ha, aka sunken fence, blind fence, or deer wall.
snack read 24 of 2025
2 fun facts:
grapes in Georgian and Regency England (wealthy households) "were used to create massive, sometimes table-long centerpieces, to which guests would help themselves."
there's a type of 'invisible' fence called ha-ha, aka sunken fence, blind fence, or deer wall.
snack read 24 of 2025
February 25, 2025
This lovely little book will either thrill or disappoint, depending on what the reader hopes to find between its pages. A gathering of Austen quotations, plant descriptions, garden design, and crafts, it has a little for everyone but perhaps not enough of any one subject to suit some readers.
After the introduction there is a timeline of Austen's life and writings. The chapters that follow cover Flower Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, The Conservatory, Parkland, and Hedgerows. Information about her life is mixed with quotes from her novels, descriptions of plants, and background details on gardens of the time. Spaced throughout the text are also instructions on how to make crafts that were popular in Austen's time or reflect her life in some way.
I was hoping for an examination of the role gardens play in the books, for instance, as places where heroines discover their feelings for the heroes, but this wasn't that type of book. Nothing was talked about in depth. Instead, this has the feel of a coffee table book that you pick up now and then to fill a quiet moment or savor the illustrations. And those illustrations, by Jessica Roux, are lovely. The colors are soft, with a lot of greens and other natural shades. The text, not as smooth as I would like, is absolutely enhanced by them.
The crafts are varied and creative. I was especially interested in making wax flowers and lavender water. The more adventurous might like to try the instructions for brewing Sloe Gin.
There's an illustrated glossary at the back. I doubt anyone needs to have "gardener" defined, but the entries include more information about each item in the Regency era, and shouldn't be skipped. I especially appreciated the illustrations of a ha-ha and shrubberies.
All in all, this isn't for the Janeite who wants a deep dive into Austen's work. It is the perfect book for those with even a casual interest in Austen and her times who like to dabble in different crafts, including plants, or who enjoy looking at lovely garden books and dreaming. I'm giving it 4 stars because it does what it set out to do well, it just may not be what every reader wants from the title.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
After the introduction there is a timeline of Austen's life and writings. The chapters that follow cover Flower Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, The Conservatory, Parkland, and Hedgerows. Information about her life is mixed with quotes from her novels, descriptions of plants, and background details on gardens of the time. Spaced throughout the text are also instructions on how to make crafts that were popular in Austen's time or reflect her life in some way.
I was hoping for an examination of the role gardens play in the books, for instance, as places where heroines discover their feelings for the heroes, but this wasn't that type of book. Nothing was talked about in depth. Instead, this has the feel of a coffee table book that you pick up now and then to fill a quiet moment or savor the illustrations. And those illustrations, by Jessica Roux, are lovely. The colors are soft, with a lot of greens and other natural shades. The text, not as smooth as I would like, is absolutely enhanced by them.
The crafts are varied and creative. I was especially interested in making wax flowers and lavender water. The more adventurous might like to try the instructions for brewing Sloe Gin.
There's an illustrated glossary at the back. I doubt anyone needs to have "gardener" defined, but the entries include more information about each item in the Regency era, and shouldn't be skipped. I especially appreciated the illustrations of a ha-ha and shrubberies.
All in all, this isn't for the Janeite who wants a deep dive into Austen's work. It is the perfect book for those with even a casual interest in Austen and her times who like to dabble in different crafts, including plants, or who enjoy looking at lovely garden books and dreaming. I'm giving it 4 stars because it does what it set out to do well, it just may not be what every reader wants from the title.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
March 26, 2025
A neat concept. Pretty book with lovely illustrations. I like the inclusion of crafts. But I'm afraid the Austen references are just incredibly sloppy. Louisa never eavesdrops on Anne and Wentworth, Mary Crawford as her cousin is possibly Fanny Price's worst nightmare (beyond even acting), the aunts do NOT scold Fanny for cutting roses because they told her to do it and it was Mrs. Norris who made her go back for the key... etc, etc, etc... ARRRRGH.
March 1, 2025
This book is beautifully presented with information about each plant, excerpts from Jane's writing that mentions the plant, and some crafts and activities themed to the content of the book. It didn't add to my understanding of Jane's novels, but if you are interested in the visual landscapes of the regency era, this book will be for you
February 27, 2025
What a beautiful book. The illustrations are so wonderful. As an Austen fan, I really enjoyed learning about the flora and fauna of the time, and there are so many adorable DIY craft projects. I really enjoyed these!
The layout of the book really lends itself to be enjoyed in sections rather than in one go.
It would make a beautiful gift for an Austen fan!
Thanks to NetGalley and Molly Williams for allowing me to access this book!
The layout of the book really lends itself to be enjoyed in sections rather than in one go.
It would make a beautiful gift for an Austen fan!
Thanks to NetGalley and Molly Williams for allowing me to access this book!
April 1, 2025
I am going to London and wanted to obtain knowledge regarding English Gardens. This book was well researched and very informative regarding the details that go into an English Garden. The illustrations were lovely. The author even gave instructions to make various crafts and recipes that would have been used during Jane Austen's time.
May 19, 2025
This is a beautiful book! The illustrations are gorgeous, and the writing is fluid. I love the different craft ideas and how each plant connects in some way with Jane and her stories. Although there is a lot of information it's not wordy at all. The description of each plant is only 1-2 pages which is a perfect length in my opinion. This is definitely something to have in your book collection.
July 2, 2025
This book is perfect for those who are avid fans of Jane Austen and also enjoy nature and gardening.
Very enjoyable. I especially like the nature craft and project instructions.
Very enjoyable. I especially like the nature craft and project instructions.
April 28, 2025
Absolutely beautiful and informative book. A treasure of gardening secrets, projects, literary connection, and everyday Austen tidbits.
April 14, 2025
Beautiful book! I particularly liked the tree section. Wasn't terribly interested in diy/craft parts. Definitely keeping for my All Things Austen shelf.
February 14, 2025
ARC review
this is my opinion of this book in all honesty
this was such a beautiful/cozy read!!! I love every single thing about this book!! the colors, the language used, the art style, the topics, the fonts, literally every single thing!!! which wasn't expected to be honest as I don't like Jane Austen's books that much. If you love plants, cozy slow-paced books, Jane Austen, and Illustrated books, you'll definitely love this!
this is my opinion of this book in all honesty
this was such a beautiful/cozy read!!! I love every single thing about this book!! the colors, the language used, the art style, the topics, the fonts, literally every single thing!!! which wasn't expected to be honest as I don't like Jane Austen's books that much. If you love plants, cozy slow-paced books, Jane Austen, and Illustrated books, you'll definitely love this!
February 13, 2026
Una passeggiata con Jane Austen ☕️
Un volume che celebra i romanzi della Austen, che ci invita a riconnetterci alla natura e ad apprezzarne la sua bellezza, ad abbracciare l’idea di una vita lenta 🌿
Grazie a 𝘕𝘦𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘪 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 riscopriamo la simbologia botanica delle sue opere e delle sue eroine, apprezziamo il legame profondo tra l’autrice e la natura - che è sempre stata presente nella sua vita, nella campagna inglese a Chawton, Steventon ma anche a Bath con i suoi spazi verdi oltre alle sale da tè e da ballo 🫖
Si tratta di una vera ispirazione per vivere come Jane Austen: curare il proprio orto, dedicarsi ad una serra, scovare rimedi naturali alla lavanda…🪻consigli, aneddoti, illustrazioni delicate ed eleganti rendono questo volume immancabile per gli appassionati di Jane Austen, della botanica e della storia inglese 💫
Grazie di cuore ad Aboca per la copia, un piccolo capolavoro per immergersi nell’epoca Regency 🤍
Un volume che celebra i romanzi della Austen, che ci invita a riconnetterci alla natura e ad apprezzarne la sua bellezza, ad abbracciare l’idea di una vita lenta 🌿
Grazie a 𝘕𝘦𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘪 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 riscopriamo la simbologia botanica delle sue opere e delle sue eroine, apprezziamo il legame profondo tra l’autrice e la natura - che è sempre stata presente nella sua vita, nella campagna inglese a Chawton, Steventon ma anche a Bath con i suoi spazi verdi oltre alle sale da tè e da ballo 🫖
Si tratta di una vera ispirazione per vivere come Jane Austen: curare il proprio orto, dedicarsi ad una serra, scovare rimedi naturali alla lavanda…🪻consigli, aneddoti, illustrazioni delicate ed eleganti rendono questo volume immancabile per gli appassionati di Jane Austen, della botanica e della storia inglese 💫
Grazie di cuore ad Aboca per la copia, un piccolo capolavoro per immergersi nell’epoca Regency 🤍
January 13, 2026
Io non riesco a resistere ai libri che parlano di Jane Austen e delle sue opere, ma quando un volume unisce Jane Austen e la natura, allora so che devo leggerlo il prima possibile!
Questo volume è suddiviso in grandi temi sulla natura (come per esempio "Il giardino fiorito" o "La siepe"), che a loro volta approfondiscono elementi specifici (ad esempio la rosa o il ciliegio). Sono stata un po' vaga per non rovinarvi la lettura, ma vi lascio un piccolo esempio: il capitolo "L'orto" si apre con una breve introduzione su come venivano progettati gli orti durante l’Età della Reggenza, per poi proseguire con utili e semplici istruzioni per crearne uno in cassetta. E questo è solo l’inizio...
La parte che in ogni capitolo mi ha conquistato di più è quella in cui un frutto, un ortaggio o un fiore viene raccontato e poi evidenziato come quel determinato elemento è apparso nei libri o nelle lettere di Jane Austen. In questo modo, ho potuto rivivere alcuni passaggi delle sue opere più celebri, soffermandomi sull’importanza che la natura ha sempre avuto nelle sue storie.
Ho trovato questo libro ricco di spunti per provare a creare qualcosa con le proprie mani, ma soprattutto ho apprezzato il modo chiaro e coinvolgente in cui è stato scritto, con istruzioni semplici da seguire, sempre mettendo in primo piano la vita e le opere di Jane Austen.
Le splendide illustrazioni di Jessica Roux, unite al testo, danno vita a un volume perfetto per ogni tipo di lettore: per chi ama Jane Austen, per chi desidera conoscerla meglio e, naturalmente, per chi ama la natura in tutte le sue forme.
Questo volume è suddiviso in grandi temi sulla natura (come per esempio "Il giardino fiorito" o "La siepe"), che a loro volta approfondiscono elementi specifici (ad esempio la rosa o il ciliegio). Sono stata un po' vaga per non rovinarvi la lettura, ma vi lascio un piccolo esempio: il capitolo "L'orto" si apre con una breve introduzione su come venivano progettati gli orti durante l’Età della Reggenza, per poi proseguire con utili e semplici istruzioni per crearne uno in cassetta. E questo è solo l’inizio...
La parte che in ogni capitolo mi ha conquistato di più è quella in cui un frutto, un ortaggio o un fiore viene raccontato e poi evidenziato come quel determinato elemento è apparso nei libri o nelle lettere di Jane Austen. In questo modo, ho potuto rivivere alcuni passaggi delle sue opere più celebri, soffermandomi sull’importanza che la natura ha sempre avuto nelle sue storie.
Ho trovato questo libro ricco di spunti per provare a creare qualcosa con le proprie mani, ma soprattutto ho apprezzato il modo chiaro e coinvolgente in cui è stato scritto, con istruzioni semplici da seguire, sempre mettendo in primo piano la vita e le opere di Jane Austen.
Le splendide illustrazioni di Jessica Roux, unite al testo, danno vita a un volume perfetto per ogni tipo di lettore: per chi ama Jane Austen, per chi desidera conoscerla meglio e, naturalmente, per chi ama la natura in tutte le sue forme.
February 28, 2025
As a country girl and a fan of Jane Austen I felt this book was written for people like me. If anything my Instagram feed is proof of how much I adore gardens and flowers and woodlands. Jane Austen books showcase a love for such spaces from providing a place to our heroines away from families to providing a beautiful literary atmosphere for the reader. This book is a beautiful journey through the botanical characters of Austen's books. The language and phrasing in the book is so beautiful perfect homage to Austen. Coming to illustrations, they are beautiful and elegant, elevating and complimenting the book in the most beautiful way.
The book has plants mentioned in the Jane Austen books and gives us a brief history of how the plants and trees came to England and my favourite part was things you can make with them, from lavender water and natural dye, to designing a possy bouquet. Also it has tips on growing some of the mentioned plants like strawberries and potatoes.
This is a beautiful book both in all ways the writing, the cover and the illustrations. 4❤️/5
Thank you to netgalley for providing me the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book has plants mentioned in the Jane Austen books and gives us a brief history of how the plants and trees came to England and my favourite part was things you can make with them, from lavender water and natural dye, to designing a possy bouquet. Also it has tips on growing some of the mentioned plants like strawberries and potatoes.
This is a beautiful book both in all ways the writing, the cover and the illustrations. 4❤️/5
Thank you to netgalley for providing me the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2025
This is a charming little glimpse into the horticulture of Jane Austen’s time- with not only references to her beloved writings, but also historical anecdotes about the plants and their uses. Jane’s personal history is also woven throughout. For example, a short page discusses Jane’s family’s kitchen garden at Chawton, before the book begins diving into details about cabbage, currants and other fruits and veggies. The book also advises on how best to cultivate said produce. It’s a basic book, yes, but it’s handy!
*If only the brilliant Mr. Collin’s’ potato line was actually in the book, but sadly, no and so of course don’t expect to see it here*
The book is not an in depth history lesson, but would be a really lovely gift for a devotee of Ms. Austen, or an Anglophile, like myself. I will absolutely be adding this book to my coffee table collection.
Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for this arc, in exchange for my unbiased review!
*If only the brilliant Mr. Collin’s’ potato line was actually in the book, but sadly, no and so of course don’t expect to see it here*
The book is not an in depth history lesson, but would be a really lovely gift for a devotee of Ms. Austen, or an Anglophile, like myself. I will absolutely be adding this book to my coffee table collection.
Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for this arc, in exchange for my unbiased review!
Read
February 24, 2025The part of the title ‘A Classic Botanical Tour of the Classic Novels’ is the best way to describe this book. It explains different aspects of gardens and different landscaping in the Regency era that were mentioned in Jane Austin’s books.
The author makes connections between gardens, parklands, conservatories etc. in relation to the social status & wealth of the era that Jane would have perceived and experienced.
Overall, I found it could have used something more in-depth. Possibly how these gardens influenced Austins’ writing e.g. like Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Iconic Poet
#JaneAustensGarden #NetGalley
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
The author makes connections between gardens, parklands, conservatories etc. in relation to the social status & wealth of the era that Jane would have perceived and experienced.
Overall, I found it could have used something more in-depth. Possibly how these gardens influenced Austins’ writing e.g. like Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Iconic Poet
#JaneAustensGarden #NetGalley
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
November 23, 2025
Not only a reference to plants mentioned in Jane Austen novels, this is an overview of gardening in England during the Georgian and Regency eras. As a native plant enthusiast myself, I was most interested in the author’s descriptions and histories of particular plants. This was the period when exotic plants were introduced to display high social status. Some of the introduced plants escaped gardens to become invasive. Some English natives are now endangered. Some of the natives listed were introduced to America and are now invasive where I live, threatening our native species. Intriguing to learn more about how plants were used and valued, and influences from the Romans to later Italian and French designs, and uniquely English styles.
May 29, 2025
I adore Jessica Roux’s illustrations, and I knew I would love the book but I was so appreciative of the depth of research. Not just where this plant was mentioned in which books but what varieties existed in England at that time, how they were landscaped (or not), what they were used for, how they arrived in England if they weren’t native, and here is a DIY project using said plant to Austenify your life. Dear Reader, this is an Austenite’s dream. You simply must get a copy.
Read
January 27, 2026A pretty gift book for people who love both gardening and Jane Austen. Nothing new here but a sweet light read.
July 23, 2025
3.75 stars
January 8, 2026
i have quite a few bones to pick with this book, which is honestly impressive when you stop and think about it, because this is a non-fiction book about… gardening. flowers. plants. vibes. how do you mess that up?
let’s start with the real reason i picked this up: fear of humiliation. last year, my best friend and i did a reading bingo. a bingo i lost. not “oh haha we were close” lost. i lost badly. humbling. character-building. one of the prompts this year was “a book that mentions tulips,” and i just wanted to get at least one square done with absolute certainty. no risks. no gambling. this book had flowers in the title. jane austen. surely tulips would show up somewhere. sue me for trying to preserve my dignity.
but jokes aside, i didn’t go into this expecting to dislike it. actually, i thought this would be a perfect pick for me. i’ve been on a non-fiction kick since last year, and i’ve grown especially fond of non-fiction books about fiction—books that give you extra layers, background, context, or new ways to interpret stories you already love. and this one sounded lovely! learning more about the flowers, fruits, and plants mentioned in jane austen’s novels? understanding her relationship with gardening? decoding the meanings behind the natural imagery she used? that sounded cozy, charming, and right up my alley.
and for a brief moment, it really felt like that’s what i was getting.
the first few pages were genuinely good. they focused on roses: different types, their symbolism, and even roses that were specifically bred for a jane austen rose collection—which i did not know existed, and which is objectively very cool. i immediately went on google, screenshotted everything, and sent it all to my resident jane austen connoisseur (aka my best friend). i could already picture myself becoming that annoying person who reads one non-fiction book and suddenly has a bunch of niche facts to share on the subway ride home.
i truly thought this would be one of those books.
and then… it wasn’t.
after those opening pages, this became one of the dullest books i’ve read in a long time.
my biggest issue—and the one that kind of poisons everything else—is that, despite the title, this book has almost nothing to do with jane austen. yes, every chapter technically includes a quote from one of her novels, which might fool you into thinking the book is actually grounded in her work. but those passages are never meaningful. they’re not analyzed, not contextualized, not connected to anything larger.
they’re just… there.
it often goes like this: the author wants to talk about a specific plant—let’s say peaches—so she includes a random sentence from one of austen’s novels where a character happens to walk past peaches. and that’s it. no explanation of why that moment matters, no discussion of symbolism, no exploration of how austen used that image elsewhere or what it might’ve meant to her readers at the time.
and the thing is, those passages are so generic that they could belong to literally any book. change the character’s name and suddenly it’s “clarisse dalloway walked past peaches,” or “sherlock holmes walked past peaches,” or “tony stark walked past peaches.” the peach doesn’t do anything. it doesn’t tell us anything about character, theme, or tone. it’s just a noun existing in a sentence.
what i wanted—and honestly expected—was a book that would tell me something about jane austen’s relationship with nature. what flowers did she mention most often? did certain plants show up more frequently in romantic moments versus tense ones? were there cultural meanings attached to these plants that her contemporary readers would’ve immediately understood? was gardening something she actively loved, or simply a part of daily life that naturally found its way into her writing?
instead, it felt like the author wanted to write a general book about plants and decided to stick jane austen’s name on the cover to make it stand out from the other hundred gardening books on the shelf.
the moments where jane herself actually appears—especially through her letters—should have been the strongest parts of the book. and while those sections were slightly more interesting, they still felt frustratingly superficial. her letters are treated less as something worth unpacking and more as a convenient excuse to pivot to something else. instead of, say, analyzing which plants she mentioned repeatedly or what those mentions reveal about her tastes or daily life, we get a lot of speculation.
“jane lived near this place, so she might have visited this garden.”
“she lived in this area, so she might have seen this greenhouse.”
might.
look, i understand that there are limits to what we know about jane austen. i really do. but when i’m reading non-fiction, especially literary non-fiction, i expect a certain level of caution with assumptions. because the moment you open the door to “this probably happened because it supports my point,” you also open the door to a hundred equally plausible alternatives that completely contradict it.
sure, she might have visited that garden and loved it. she also might have gone once and hated it. or maybe she never went at all—maybe it was raining, maybe she was sick, maybe she stayed home to write instead. we don’t know. and building arguments on “might have” starts to feel flimsy very fast.
and honestly? even if i ignore all of that—even if i pretend this book is just a random non-fiction book about plants—it still doesn’t work.
to me, a non-fiction book needs to have something to say. it doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel or present groundbreaking discoveries. but when every chapter is just a list of facts—the latin name, a description of appearance and taste, and a brief history of how the plant arrived in england—i’m left wondering why this needed to be a book at all. this reads exactly like a wikipedia page. actually, that’s unfair. wikipedia often manages to be more engaging.
there’s no voice. no angle. no curiosity. no sense that the author is genuinely interested in teaching me something new or making me look at these plants differently.
i’m not saying every single plant needs a quirky fun fact. what i am saying is that if you have nothing to add to the conversation—no insight, no interpretation, no fresh perspective—why are you having the conversation in the first place?
it also doesn’t help that every chapter follows the exact same structure and repeats the same ideas. every plant was once a sign of wealth. every plant is now more accessible. yes. we got it. that may be historically accurate, but when it’s the only thing you have to say, repetition starts to feel like filler rather than emphasis.
after a while, it becomes almost comical. every chapter reads like: “this plant used to be expensive and exclusive, and now it’s not.” okay! great! is there anything else you’d like to tell me? cultural associations? literary symbolism? emotional resonance? anything?
by the end, reading this book felt less like learning and more like trudging through slightly reworded versions of the same paragraph over and over again.
overall, this was a waste of time. the illustrations were kind of pretty, but not nearly enough to save it. honestly, i think i would’ve had a better time just scrolling through random wikipedia pages about peaches.
let’s start with the real reason i picked this up: fear of humiliation. last year, my best friend and i did a reading bingo. a bingo i lost. not “oh haha we were close” lost. i lost badly. humbling. character-building. one of the prompts this year was “a book that mentions tulips,” and i just wanted to get at least one square done with absolute certainty. no risks. no gambling. this book had flowers in the title. jane austen. surely tulips would show up somewhere. sue me for trying to preserve my dignity.
but jokes aside, i didn’t go into this expecting to dislike it. actually, i thought this would be a perfect pick for me. i’ve been on a non-fiction kick since last year, and i’ve grown especially fond of non-fiction books about fiction—books that give you extra layers, background, context, or new ways to interpret stories you already love. and this one sounded lovely! learning more about the flowers, fruits, and plants mentioned in jane austen’s novels? understanding her relationship with gardening? decoding the meanings behind the natural imagery she used? that sounded cozy, charming, and right up my alley.
and for a brief moment, it really felt like that’s what i was getting.
the first few pages were genuinely good. they focused on roses: different types, their symbolism, and even roses that were specifically bred for a jane austen rose collection—which i did not know existed, and which is objectively very cool. i immediately went on google, screenshotted everything, and sent it all to my resident jane austen connoisseur (aka my best friend). i could already picture myself becoming that annoying person who reads one non-fiction book and suddenly has a bunch of niche facts to share on the subway ride home.
i truly thought this would be one of those books.
and then… it wasn’t.
after those opening pages, this became one of the dullest books i’ve read in a long time.
my biggest issue—and the one that kind of poisons everything else—is that, despite the title, this book has almost nothing to do with jane austen. yes, every chapter technically includes a quote from one of her novels, which might fool you into thinking the book is actually grounded in her work. but those passages are never meaningful. they’re not analyzed, not contextualized, not connected to anything larger.
they’re just… there.
it often goes like this: the author wants to talk about a specific plant—let’s say peaches—so she includes a random sentence from one of austen’s novels where a character happens to walk past peaches. and that’s it. no explanation of why that moment matters, no discussion of symbolism, no exploration of how austen used that image elsewhere or what it might’ve meant to her readers at the time.
and the thing is, those passages are so generic that they could belong to literally any book. change the character’s name and suddenly it’s “clarisse dalloway walked past peaches,” or “sherlock holmes walked past peaches,” or “tony stark walked past peaches.” the peach doesn’t do anything. it doesn’t tell us anything about character, theme, or tone. it’s just a noun existing in a sentence.
what i wanted—and honestly expected—was a book that would tell me something about jane austen’s relationship with nature. what flowers did she mention most often? did certain plants show up more frequently in romantic moments versus tense ones? were there cultural meanings attached to these plants that her contemporary readers would’ve immediately understood? was gardening something she actively loved, or simply a part of daily life that naturally found its way into her writing?
instead, it felt like the author wanted to write a general book about plants and decided to stick jane austen’s name on the cover to make it stand out from the other hundred gardening books on the shelf.
the moments where jane herself actually appears—especially through her letters—should have been the strongest parts of the book. and while those sections were slightly more interesting, they still felt frustratingly superficial. her letters are treated less as something worth unpacking and more as a convenient excuse to pivot to something else. instead of, say, analyzing which plants she mentioned repeatedly or what those mentions reveal about her tastes or daily life, we get a lot of speculation.
“jane lived near this place, so she might have visited this garden.”
“she lived in this area, so she might have seen this greenhouse.”
might.
look, i understand that there are limits to what we know about jane austen. i really do. but when i’m reading non-fiction, especially literary non-fiction, i expect a certain level of caution with assumptions. because the moment you open the door to “this probably happened because it supports my point,” you also open the door to a hundred equally plausible alternatives that completely contradict it.
sure, she might have visited that garden and loved it. she also might have gone once and hated it. or maybe she never went at all—maybe it was raining, maybe she was sick, maybe she stayed home to write instead. we don’t know. and building arguments on “might have” starts to feel flimsy very fast.
and honestly? even if i ignore all of that—even if i pretend this book is just a random non-fiction book about plants—it still doesn’t work.
to me, a non-fiction book needs to have something to say. it doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel or present groundbreaking discoveries. but when every chapter is just a list of facts—the latin name, a description of appearance and taste, and a brief history of how the plant arrived in england—i’m left wondering why this needed to be a book at all. this reads exactly like a wikipedia page. actually, that’s unfair. wikipedia often manages to be more engaging.
there’s no voice. no angle. no curiosity. no sense that the author is genuinely interested in teaching me something new or making me look at these plants differently.
i’m not saying every single plant needs a quirky fun fact. what i am saying is that if you have nothing to add to the conversation—no insight, no interpretation, no fresh perspective—why are you having the conversation in the first place?
it also doesn’t help that every chapter follows the exact same structure and repeats the same ideas. every plant was once a sign of wealth. every plant is now more accessible. yes. we got it. that may be historically accurate, but when it’s the only thing you have to say, repetition starts to feel like filler rather than emphasis.
after a while, it becomes almost comical. every chapter reads like: “this plant used to be expensive and exclusive, and now it’s not.” okay! great! is there anything else you’d like to tell me? cultural associations? literary symbolism? emotional resonance? anything?
by the end, reading this book felt less like learning and more like trudging through slightly reworded versions of the same paragraph over and over again.
overall, this was a waste of time. the illustrations were kind of pretty, but not nearly enough to save it. honestly, i think i would’ve had a better time just scrolling through random wikipedia pages about peaches.
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