A Rage for Rock Gardening: The Story of Reginald Farrer, Gardener, Writer & Plant Collector, Nicola Shulman, David R Godine (rev. exp. edition: October 15, 2004); 128pps, illustrated; publisher’s price: $20, Amazon price: hardcover $17.97, softcover $8.45.
The book added a great deal to my understanding of Reginald Farrer’s personality, but rock gardening, in spite of the title, was not a primary focus of this book.
It presents a thorough picture of the social and family world that shaped him, along with his physical limitations. My impression was of an author who felt sympathy for a not very likable person.
She discusses his profound impact on garden writing and his relationships with some of the famous gardeners of his time.
The book covered quite fully his plant hunting expeditions, again expanding our knowledge of Farrer the person.
I enjoyed it very much but I was never sure what audience she was aiming at.
Reviewed by Kendall McLean, who lives and gardens outside of Seattle, WA and belongs to the Northwest Chapter, of which she is the newsletter editor. She loves to read and to collect plants, and hates to weed.
Ed. Note: Reginald Farrer (1880-1920) was born into a well-to-do family in Yorkshire England. By 10 years old he was a well-qualified field botanist. He had been homeschooled due to a speech defect. At 14, he made his first rock garden in an abandoned quarry. From there he went to Oxford at 17, and lived for 8 months in Japan after graduation. His first book, The Gardens of Asia, was published in 1904. From Tokyo he explored China, Korea and Japan. My Rock Garden was published in 1907 in England. His other books resulted from explorations in Italy and China. He died while on a China expedition with E.H.M. Cox, and is buried in Konglu.