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Having left Glourcestershire in his ongoing series of studies on the gardens of England, Timothy Mowl sets foot into Dorset. Written with authority and enthusiasm, he outlines the history of gardens and gardening in Dorset from the Renaissance, through the Baroque style, the earliest parks, the clutter and ostentation of the Victorian era, to the present-day gardeners of the late 20th century. Mowl discusses the pioneers, the trend-setters, changes in garden design and style, and the quest for, and sometimes resistence to, the traditions of the past. The book is full of illustrations of some of the 87 gardens visited including the water gardens of the Cistercian Abbey at Bindon, the parterres at Lulworth, the grounds of Highcliffe Castle and Sticky Wicket. `The county's gardens,... have long awaited a perceptive review. Their exploration by Timothy Mowl is masterful; it is stimulating, educational and provocative' - Penelope Hobhouse.