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Palace of Palms: Tropical Dreams and the Making of Kew
'This book gives a marvelous glimpse into a lost and luscious Victorian world, peopled not only with plants but with energetic, ambitious - and sometimes frankly bonkers - characters.' Lucy Worsley'Not since Anna Pavord's The Tulip has a book so brilliantly captured the spirit of its subject. Kate Teltscher's Palace of Palms is a glorious headrush into Victorian history via one of the most iconic and beautiful glasshouses in the world. This is a bright, shining jewel of a book, a hedonists' delight and an escapists' antidote to the humdrum.' Amanda ForemanDaringly innovative when it opened in 1848, the Palm House in Kew Gardens remains one of the most beautiful glass buildings in the world today. Seemingly weightless, vast and yet light, the Palm House floats free from architectural convention, at once monumental and ethereal. From a distance, the crowns of the palms within are silhouetted in the central dome; close to, banana leaves thrust themselves against the glass. To enter it is to enter a tropical fantasy. The body is assaulted by heat, light, and the smell of damp vegetation. In Palace of Palms, Kate Teltscher tells the extraordinary story of its creation and of the Victorians obsession with the palms that filled it. It is a story of breathtaking ambition, of scientific discovery and, crucially, of the remarkable men whose vision it was. The Palm House was commissioned by the charismatic first Director of Kew, Sir William Hooker, designed by the audacious Irish engineer, Richard Turner, and managed by Kews forthright curator, John Smith, who battled with boilers and floods to ensure the survival of the rare and wondrous plants it housed.
400 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 18, 2020
Kew has to be one of my favourite places to visit and this fascinating account gives us the history of how it came to be. The book begins in 1838 with an inspection of the botanic gardens at Kew. At that time, Kew was an affluent village and the gardens consisted of only eleven acres; existing between the Royal Kitchen Garden, the lawns of Kew Palace and the Royal Pleasure Grounds. Kew had been built up during the reign of George III, but later monarchs showed no interest. By 1837, when Victoria gained the throne, the standards had slipped and Kew was under criticism for a reluctance to share rare plants. The report that the inspectors finally wrote, suggested the Kew lacked even the basic requirements of a botanic garden.
This damning report led to a grand vision of expansion, with financial responsibility transferred from the Royal family to the Government Treasure. Victoria, new crowned, and married, showed no interest in pushing forward plans for Kew, but, cleverly, Prince Albert was approached and, once he was involved, then Victoria’s interest was assured. Once Sir William Hooker became the Director, in 1841, Kew became a public institution. Hooker was ambitious and, what he most wanted, was a Palm House, although this was not completed until 1848.
This book takes us through visits to collect plants, experiments to discover the right kind of glass and, most importantly, the best way to heat the Palm House. For anyone who has visited either the Palm House at Kew, or in any other botanic gardens, then you will know the heat that hits you, when you open the door. For visitors in Victorian London, especially those without much money, this visit offered a tropical setting with none of the hazards of distant travel. There were unknown fruits, such as bananas, and palms – of course – reaching exuberantly towards the sky.
This is a really interesting read. It deals with all the people who set out to make Kew a public institution, whose aim was to educate and inform. As such, a cheap guide was written, which was immensely popular with visitors. It was interesting to note that there was some concern about the behaviour of the working classes, but it was noted that they were, ‘not the people to pick and pilfer.’ Rather, it was the amateur gardeners, mostly middle class, who would try to sneak a cutting or two. It is also interesting to consider that botany was the only science that girls were encouraged to study and, as such, many girls, and women, liked to paint in the gardens.
I really enjoyed reading about the history of Kew. Of the ways people strove to get posts at Kew – indeed, Sir William Hooker spent more than a decade trying to get his son a role. Of the many people who did their utmost to make Kew a truly worthwhile project, which would not lose sight of its goals and who were, truly, obsessed with botany. For anyone interested in Victorian history, this is such a worthwhile read, as it has all the self-made scientists, you would expect from this era. A very informative history, which will make you wish to visit Kew, if you have not already done so.
This damning report led to a grand vision of expansion, with financial responsibility transferred from the Royal family to the Government Treasure. Victoria, new crowned, and married, showed no interest in pushing forward plans for Kew, but, cleverly, Prince Albert was approached and, once he was involved, then Victoria’s interest was assured. Once Sir William Hooker became the Director, in 1841, Kew became a public institution. Hooker was ambitious and, what he most wanted, was a Palm House, although this was not completed until 1848.
This book takes us through visits to collect plants, experiments to discover the right kind of glass and, most importantly, the best way to heat the Palm House. For anyone who has visited either the Palm House at Kew, or in any other botanic gardens, then you will know the heat that hits you, when you open the door. For visitors in Victorian London, especially those without much money, this visit offered a tropical setting with none of the hazards of distant travel. There were unknown fruits, such as bananas, and palms – of course – reaching exuberantly towards the sky.
This is a really interesting read. It deals with all the people who set out to make Kew a public institution, whose aim was to educate and inform. As such, a cheap guide was written, which was immensely popular with visitors. It was interesting to note that there was some concern about the behaviour of the working classes, but it was noted that they were, ‘not the people to pick and pilfer.’ Rather, it was the amateur gardeners, mostly middle class, who would try to sneak a cutting or two. It is also interesting to consider that botany was the only science that girls were encouraged to study and, as such, many girls, and women, liked to paint in the gardens.
I really enjoyed reading about the history of Kew. Of the ways people strove to get posts at Kew – indeed, Sir William Hooker spent more than a decade trying to get his son a role. Of the many people who did their utmost to make Kew a truly worthwhile project, which would not lose sight of its goals and who were, truly, obsessed with botany. For anyone interested in Victorian history, this is such a worthwhile read, as it has all the self-made scientists, you would expect from this era. A very informative history, which will make you wish to visit Kew, if you have not already done so.
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July 17, 2021Honestly quite a lot more than I wanted to know about the establishment of Kew Gardens and building of the Palm House. Interesting on the Victorian obsession with botany and on how the planning and tendering processes worked.
December 1, 2021
The Palm House in London’s Kew Gardens is an amazing place to visit.....and I can imagine that it was an even more amazing experience for the visitors of 1848 when it first opened, as few of these people would have had the opportunity to travel to the places where the tropical plants that live there so happily, originated.
This book is packed full of information about how the Palm House was created, and about the people who made it possible.
It looks at every aspect of how this building came to be....the dream of botanists and plantsmen that became a wonderful reality.
There are fascinating facts about how it was built, the problems and the clever solutions that overcame all obstacles, what kind of glass was needed, and how new techniques made the seemingly impossible possible, and about how the plants themselves, found by intrepid plant hunters, came to become part of this exhibit.
All these years later it’s still there, hot, humid, and definitely authentic.....when one of my Daughters and I visited a little while ago, we both commented on how it transported us back to our time living in the tropics.
The other wonderful glass houses at Kew might bigger and much more modern, but, for me, they can’t match the charm of the Palm House.
This book is packed full of information about how the Palm House was created, and about the people who made it possible.
It looks at every aspect of how this building came to be....the dream of botanists and plantsmen that became a wonderful reality.
There are fascinating facts about how it was built, the problems and the clever solutions that overcame all obstacles, what kind of glass was needed, and how new techniques made the seemingly impossible possible, and about how the plants themselves, found by intrepid plant hunters, came to become part of this exhibit.
All these years later it’s still there, hot, humid, and definitely authentic.....when one of my Daughters and I visited a little while ago, we both commented on how it transported us back to our time living in the tropics.
The other wonderful glass houses at Kew might bigger and much more modern, but, for me, they can’t match the charm of the Palm House.
July 3, 2025
Incredibly researched and beautifully written account of the process of building Palm House. It has inspired me to return to Kew and revisit its involved history.
July 24, 2024
Palace of Palms was an interesting, but a bit dry account of the history behind the creation of the Palm House at Kew Gardens in London.
Having visited there, I appreciated the background of the painstaking process of building the conservatory. I also found it amazing to read about the (often dangerous) travels to tropical destinations to acquire the many, diverse plants which would eventually find their new home at Kew Gardens.
Having visited there, I appreciated the background of the painstaking process of building the conservatory. I also found it amazing to read about the (often dangerous) travels to tropical destinations to acquire the many, diverse plants which would eventually find their new home at Kew Gardens.
September 10, 2024
Amazing, packed with information and interesting sources. As an obsessed plant nerd and Londoner, I absolutely devoured this book. The images in it really make it easy to imagine the wonder involved at the time. I also knew that palms were a fascination of the Victorians, but this brings to life how entrenched the feeling was. It's amazing to me that with how commonplace palms are now (perhaps because of the Victorian obession) we no longer exalt them to the status of princes. I might follow this up by perusing the bibliography texts.
The only question I still have is what happened with the basement!? What happened to the flooding stoves? Did they fix that? Are the tunnels still operational? I assume not after the 80s refurbishment, but I know there was an aquarium below ground that you could visit in the 90s until 2019ish. Was that where the stoves were? Were they further out? Did the aquarium flood? A quick Google only confirms that the aquarium existed and shut for good, but not what happened to the tunnels that Smith said were practically swimmable. I wanna know about the poor sods who sweated and waded down there.
The only question I still have is what happened with the basement!? What happened to the flooding stoves? Did they fix that? Are the tunnels still operational? I assume not after the 80s refurbishment, but I know there was an aquarium below ground that you could visit in the 90s until 2019ish. Was that where the stoves were? Were they further out? Did the aquarium flood? A quick Google only confirms that the aquarium existed and shut for good, but not what happened to the tunnels that Smith said were practically swimmable. I wanna know about the poor sods who sweated and waded down there.
January 3, 2025
If you understand when you start this book that it reads like a history book, then you're going to be good. After visiting Kew Gardens and the Palm House, I was so excited to pick up this book and learn more. It covers everything from budget setbacks, public opinion, building materials, but also covers Queen Victoria's changing opinion of the gardens. It includes peer rivalry, family dynamics, even whimsy. This is a great history of a beautiful greenhouse and all of the lives involved in its creation.
January 17, 2026
A fascinating history of Kew and its development as an international researcher and collector of plants and the engineers and vision that created it - more social history than Gardener’s World - but inspired me to finally take 3 trains and 3 hours each way to visit Kew - and was not disappointed! An engaging read about an international institution of west London
October 10, 2024
A nice study of an underappreciated aspect of Victorian that still resonates today.
December 17, 2024
I visited Kew when I was reading this and I could see all the Victorian influence which was super interesting. The structure of the book was a bit all over the place though.
September 7, 2024
"The Palm House became the emblem of Kew, even before it was constructed."
Palace of Palms is the amazing history of the Kew botanical gardens in London, and most importantly about the construction of the central Palm House. And I absolutely fell in love with this book!
I have sadly never been to Kew, but I have always wanted to when seeing the amazing pictures of the Palm House, so when this book came out, I knew that I had to get it. And after reading this one, I want to visit even more. Because the history of Kew is absolutely fascinating and with way more political intrigue than I was ever anticipating. So much was at stakes - both for personnel and for the existence of the garden!
I really think that there is something for everyone. We learn about expeditions and Victorian England's fascination with palms (which were my favourite chapters), the architectual masterpiece that is the Palm House (from the deck iron to the innovative glass making) as well as tidbits about the culture and politics of the times. Of course I wasn't as interested in all of the aspects, and there were a lot of names to keep straight, but it is so well told and so interesting that I loved every minute of learning. And if you are interested in any of these subjects, I really think that this is the book for you!
Palace of Palms is the amazing history of the Kew botanical gardens in London, and most importantly about the construction of the central Palm House. And I absolutely fell in love with this book!
I have sadly never been to Kew, but I have always wanted to when seeing the amazing pictures of the Palm House, so when this book came out, I knew that I had to get it. And after reading this one, I want to visit even more. Because the history of Kew is absolutely fascinating and with way more political intrigue than I was ever anticipating. So much was at stakes - both for personnel and for the existence of the garden!
I really think that there is something for everyone. We learn about expeditions and Victorian England's fascination with palms (which were my favourite chapters), the architectual masterpiece that is the Palm House (from the deck iron to the innovative glass making) as well as tidbits about the culture and politics of the times. Of course I wasn't as interested in all of the aspects, and there were a lot of names to keep straight, but it is so well told and so interesting that I loved every minute of learning. And if you are interested in any of these subjects, I really think that this is the book for you!
February 22, 2021
A fascinating and intricately researched story of the creation, development and completion of one of London's most iconic attractions.
The author delves into the lives of all the characters involved, plus the politics of the time, further bringing the story to life with details of the construction and engineering innovations, the planting and watering considerations, and adding the personal intrigue and alliances behind this unique building.
I would have preferred a bit more on the actual expeditions which gathered the specimens, but even without, this is a superb and highly engaging tale, with some surprising revelations.
The author delves into the lives of all the characters involved, plus the politics of the time, further bringing the story to life with details of the construction and engineering innovations, the planting and watering considerations, and adding the personal intrigue and alliances behind this unique building.
I would have preferred a bit more on the actual expeditions which gathered the specimens, but even without, this is a superb and highly engaging tale, with some surprising revelations.
November 14, 2021
Overall I enjoyed this and found the history of Kew from its start through to the building of the palm house interesting. I now want to go back and walk very slowly around the palm house taking a bit more of the structure than I normally do.
I did feel at times as if I was being taken off track. There was quite a long section about a book "Paul et Virginie" that made me question why I was learning so much about this book and the later stages focused heavily on palms. I admit I had not realised the importance of palms in culture but I did turn to the front of the book to check and while it is entitled "Palace of palms" it does go on to say the making of Kew.
I did feel at times as if I was being taken off track. There was quite a long section about a book "Paul et Virginie" that made me question why I was learning so much about this book and the later stages focused heavily on palms. I admit I had not realised the importance of palms in culture but I did turn to the front of the book to check and while it is entitled "Palace of palms" it does go on to say the making of Kew.
February 13, 2024
Bought this in London before visiting Kew Gardens. An interesting account about how Kew as we know it today came to be. The colonial and disturbing dimension of an imperial garden is not sugar-coated either. I wasn't too interested in every single historical figure, but the book didn't bore me either. 4 stars
December 28, 2020
A gentle hstory of Kew Gardens and the people who made it the great place that it is.
August 17, 2021
Beautifully written and very informative. A must read for people that love Kew
June 7, 2024
Starts well but the second half feels like padding.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews