paper, 174 pp., $40.00
This collection of papers, taken from a colloquium at Dumbarton Oaks, reflects the thoughts of nine contributors on the relationship of language to the natural world. Editor Stephen Bann points out the theme, which is “the relationship between language and the natural world, as it has been mediated in different cultures and at different periods by broad general notions such as landscape and the garden.” In other words, the visitor or reader is influenced by the writings of others on a given site’s interpretation. The authors report on these sorts of influences, using examples from around the world. Many illustrations amplify these scholarly essays, enhancing the theme of this work.
— Marilyn K. Alaimo, garden writer and volunteer, Chicago Botanic Garden