American Eden moves luminously through landscapes of history, literature, biography, and design theory. . . . fusing sharp-edged analysis and graceful American prose. Kevin Starr, author of Golden Gate: The Life and Times of America's Greatest Bridge
Informative and absolutely engrossing. Ross King, author of Brunelleschi's Dome
Garden designer and historian Wade Graham offers a unique vision of the story of America in this riveting exploration of the nation s gardens and the visionaries behind them, from Thomas Thomas Jefferson s Monticello to Michelle Obama s vegetable garden, Fredrick Law Olmsted s expansive Central Park to Martha Stewart s how-to landscaping guides. In the tradition of Mark Kurlansky, Simon Schama, and Michael Pollan, Graham delivers a sweeping social history that examines our nation s history from an overlooked vantage point, illuminating anew the living drama of American self-creation.