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Earthly Joys
 
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Earthly Joys (Paperback)

by Philippa Gregory (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; New Ed edition (1 Feb 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 000649644X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0006496441
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 3.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 28,717 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Synopsis
Tremendous historical novel of the early 1600s, as seen through the eyes of John Tradescant, gardener to the great men of the age. A traveller in a time of discovery, the greatest gardening pioneer of his day, yet a man of humble birth: John Tradescant's story is a mirror to the extraordinary age in which he lives. As gardener and confidante to Sir Robert Cecil, Tradescant is well placed to observe the social and political changes that are about to sweep through the kingdom. While his master conjures intrigues at Court, Tradescant designs for him the magnificent garden at Hatfield, scouring the known world for ever more wonderful plants: new varieties of fruit and flower, the first horse chestnuts to be cultivated in England, even larches from Russia. Moving to the household of the flamboyant Duke of Buckingham, Tradescant witnesses at first hand the growing division between Parliament and the people; and the most loyal of servants must find a way to become an independent squire.

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Earthly Joys
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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely enthralling, 16 Nov 2003
By A Customer
This book and its sequel 'Virgin Earth' is a must! I read both books one after the other and was fascinated by its historical background. It was well researched and both books transport the reader to the period covering the reign of James I, his son Charles I and the Cromwellian war up to the restoration of Charles II. How frightening, corrupt and uncertain life was then. How easily this country could have become a republic!
Although not a gardener myself, I was fascinated by the great amounts of plants and trees introduced by both Johns Tradescant and which are now so common in our gardens. From now on I will look at these plants and trees with totally different eyes and think back at how John the elder or John the younger managed to ship them safely to the UK and propegate them for futute generations.
This book and its sequel are full of interesting little snippets of historical value - absolute gems - such as the birth of the stock market in the Netherlands during the tulip bulb mania.
It's amazing to think that one single tulip bulb would set you back £1000 in the 1620s. Then try and imagine how much that would be in present-day currency!
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Gregory's best book yet!, 4 Feb 2002
This book, together with the sequel, Virgin Earth, are Phillipa Gregory's best books yet. A mixture of history, gardening, religion, travel, and love of many kinds. Both books written in her usual totally readable style, I couldn't put the first book down, and couldn't wait to get the sequel.
All aspects of this period of history have been well researched and are plausible and fascinating.From the disintegration of the monarchy, to the horrors of the plague, and the glories of the royal gardens, the family of Tradescants, gardeners to the king, are involved in all.
You will love this book. I certainly did.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written from a depth of historical knowledge second to none, 12 Oct 2006
By M. Cookson-carter "Cookie Monster" (Lancashire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Earthly Joys (Paperback)
Both Earthly Joys and Virgin Earth by Philippa Gregory are fantastic reads, which are a must for the reader of historical fiction and those with an interest in the development of british botanical specimin collections.

John Tradescant, gardner to the king, explorer and botanical collector was responsible for bringing a wide variety of plants to Britain, including the Horse Chestnut tree and was the benefactor responsible for the development of the Ashmolean Museum.

This book is about his voyages, his life in times of civil war and plague as well as global exploration and discovery. The sequel, the continuing tale of his son, who furthers his father's passion for collecting.

This was the frst Philippa Gregory book I read andwas hooked on her writing from then on. A great place to start and discover her style and depth of knowledge. Ideal for both male and female readers.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the Tudor Court Novels!
I see that the other reviews for this book are good, but I have to say it was a really bad book. I've read many Gregory books (The Tudor Court novels, A Respectable Trade etc) and... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Tiger Sue

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction at It's Best

Philippa Gregory has a number of extremely successful novels behind her and this is one of them, published in 1998, it is the first book in the Earthly Joys series. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. Chippindale

3.0 out of 5 stars Nicely done but a little repetitive in spots
I wouldn't say "if you aren't into gardening, don't get this," but you WILL appreciate it a lot more if you have an inkling of gardening and plants. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Erastes

4.0 out of 5 stars Forbidden Love in a Country in Turmoil
I purchased Earthly Joys upon finishing The Other Boleyn Girl trilogy and realizing that after almost 2,000 nonstop pages of Philippa Gregory I still had not had enough. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2006 by Debra Morse

4.0 out of 5 stars Immensely readable but not exactly history
Here's the beef; this was a good read, but it was also tonally wrong historically.
Gregory seems to think of servants as either Very Rebellious (John T Jnr) or Very Loyal... Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2003

2.0 out of 5 stars One-dimensional characters
My first experience with a Philippa Gregory novel was 'The Other Boleyn Girl' which I found to be exciting reading. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2003 by Erin Kimaoui

3.0 out of 5 stars Earthly Joys
I normally love Phillapa Gregory's work and so I was a bit disappointed with this novel. In places I found it slightly repetitive, espcially when John Tradescant argues with his... Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2002 by Christina Parkinson

4.0 out of 5 stars Unputdownable
For once, a book about this period that will not skimp on accuracy, which also allows a wonderful story to come through. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping period novel - even if you are not a garden-lover
Many gardeners and garden-lovers will have a special rapport with the hero and subject matter of this book. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2001 by mstewart1@uk.cgeyc.com

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly satisfying read
This book kept me captivated from beginning to end. John Tradescant is an ambitious gardener and is given the freedom and finance to create wonderful gardens and cultivate... Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2001

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