England's Magnificent Gardens: How a Billion-Dollar Industry Transformed a Nation, from Charles II to Today (Hardcover)
SKU: 9168800633

England's Magnificent Gardens: How a Billion-Dollar Industry Transformed a Nation, from Charles II to Today (Hardcover)

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England's Magnificent Gardens: How a Billion-Dollar Industry Transformed a Nation, from Charles II to Today (Hardcover)An altogether different kind of book on English gardensthe first of its kinda look at the history of Englands magnificent gardens as a history of Britain itself, from the seventeenth century gardens of Charles II to those of Prince Charles today. In this rich, revelatory history, Sir Roderick Floud, one of Britains preeminent economic historians, writes that gardens have been created in Britain since Roman times but that their true growth began in the

An altogether different kind of book on English gardens—the first of its kind—a look at the history of England’s magnificent gardens as a history of Britain itself, from the seventeenth-century gardens of Charles II to those of Prince Charles today.
 
In this rich, revelatory history, Sir Roderick Floud, one of Britain’s preeminent economic historians, writes that gardens have been created in Britain since Roman times but that their true growth began in the seventeenth century; by the eighteenth century, nurseries in London took up 100 acres, with ten million plants (!) that were worth more than all of the nurseries in France combined.
 
Floud’s book takes us through more than three centuries of English history as he writes of the kings, queens, and princes whose garden obsessions changed the landscape of England itself, from Stuart, Georgian, and Victorian England to today’s Windsors.
 
Here are William and Mary, who brought Dutch gardens and bulbs to Britain; William, who twice had his entire garden lowered in order to see the river from his apartments; and his successor, Queen Anne, who, like many others since, vowed to spend little on her gardens and instead spent millions. Floud also writes of Frederick, Prince of Wales, the founder of Kew Gardens, who spent more than $40,000 on a single twenty-five-foot tulip tree for Carlton House; Queen Victoria, who built the largest, most advanced and most efficient kitchen garden in Britain; and Prince Charles, who created and designed the gardens of Highgrove, inspired by his boyhood memories of his grandmother’s gardens.
 
We see Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, who created a magnificent garden at Blenheim Palace, only to tear it apart and build a greater one; Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, the savior of Chatsworth’s 100-acre garden in the midst of its 35,000 acres; and the gardens of lesser mortals, among them Gertrude Jekyll and Vita Sackville-West, both notable garden designers and writers.
 
We see the designers of royal estates—among them, Henry Wise, William Kent, Humphrey Repton, and the greatest of all English gardeners, “Capability” Brown, who created the 150-acre lake of Blenheim Palace, earned millions annually, and designed more than 170 parks, many still in existence today. We learn how gardening became a major catalyst for innovation (central heating came from experiments to heat greenhouses with hot-water pipes); how the new iron industry of industrializing Britain supplied a myriad of tools (mowers, pumps, and the boilers that heated the greenhouses); and, finally, Floud explores how gardening became an enormous industry as well as an art form in Britain, and by the nineteenth century was unrivaled anywhere in the world.

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SKU: 9168800633

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Masselyn
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Tight at first, but they stretch after a short time...feel perfect after the first week!
Size: 9.5-10.5, Color: Charcoal Faux Fur
I love them! My first impression was "oooh, this is too tight". I wear a size 10 shoe and honestly, the 9.5-10.5 felt tight when I first tried it. Without socks it felt okay, with socks my toes were right at the top. But I loved the style so much I decided to give it a chance - I am SO glad I did!!! They do stretch and give, so don't expect it to be tight forever. I have had them a week or so, wearing each day (I WFH) and they feel really nice. I also live in the mountains, we just had our first winter storm, and these slippers are nice and toasty. Exactly what I needed. The memory foam is plush, though I have had other slippers with it and I know it will squash down over time. Right now, it is a nice feeling as I walk around the house. They are super cute looking, wearing leggings allows me to feel like I am stylish even while still wearing my sleep thermals. YAY!
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Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2025
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Alyene
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
favorite slipper ever
Size: 8-9, Color: Charcoal Faux Fur
I love these slippers. They look great with pants tucked in. Incredibly warm and comfortable. I wear them almost every day. Fit is true to size. They stay up but are not tight at all. On top of that I get compliments on them. Highly recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2026
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Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Favorite Slippers Of All Time
Size: 6.5-7.5, Color: Charcoal Faux Fur
ETA 7/2024: So I ended up buying a size 5-6. They fit better around the top and sides of my foot but the sole is a bit small. The 6.5-7.5 sole fits better but the material around the top and sides is roomy so it bunches up. Sigh. I still love these slippers but the fit is frustrating. I'm obsessed with these slipper boots! They are so cute and comfy. They look especially good with leggings but I also like that I can tuck other types of pajama pants into them. I'm short and have to fold the waist of most pajama pants so they're not super long on me, but with these boot slippers on I don't have to worry about my pant bottoms dragging on the floor since I can just tuck them in. I like that they have rubber soles. I love the look of the faux fur but not sure how easy they will be to wash because of it. I wear a 7 or 7.5 and I got the 6.5-7.5 size. Even with thick socks on they are roomy. Because they are house shoes it doesn't matter much but I probably could've sized down. I like the way they look so much I might buy a size down and use that pair for wearing outside of my house. Some other reviews said they have a strong smell but mine did not.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2024
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Here4Chocolate
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 4
Cozy warm, overall a good slipper!
I ordered a size Medium and I normally wear a women's size 8 US / 39 EUR and they fit well. According to the box, a Medium in Acorn sizing is Women's 6.5 - 7.5, but I do think these run a little large which is why I went with the Medium vs. Large. The boot part fits well, not too snug or too loose, and it stays up if it has something to adhere to (like over pants), otherwise it would slide down my bare leg. I am super sensitive to scratchiness lol, so I keep the boot part over pants because it is a little scratchy to me. These slippers are nice and cozy, so they keep my feet / ankles warm. The footbed provides a nice cushion and the soles/suede guards are strong but without making you feel like you are wearing actual shoes / boots. I have noticed that the footbed does not have a lot of rebound so there are definitely impressions of my toes inside... which means no one else will want to wear them... haha! I've also noticed the seams seem prominent on the inside, I wish they were a less noticeable, but that is just one of my hangups. So, the only reason I am giving a 4 instead of 5 is the inside is not as soft as I'd like and the seam problem. Regardless, I wear these all the time at home (which is where most of us all are right now) and I am happy with them overall. Oh, and I got the Buffalo Check pattern and it's super cute and fun!
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Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2020
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BearlyVintage
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Soft, Warm and Cozy
I have no idea how these stay up, probably magic. I'm tall so it's challenging to find boot style slippers that are long enough. If support or thick soles aren't an issue, these are the best I've ever found! My ankles and calves have never BEEN so warm; these are my go-to's in the evening. They're easier to walk in with socks but, without, they're floppy and loose. I'd hesitate to size down because it's more the lack of structure in the foot, not length. They wash well (air dry); still soft, warm and cozy. Inserts could probably be added to help with support. I tried them because I found them at a fantastic sale price but I'm buying another pair now, for winter. I'm a slipper person and I definitely notice the quality of materials in Acorns, when I compare them with other slippers.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024

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