Penelope Hobhouse: A Life in Gardens

The first biography of internationally acclaimed garden writer and designer, Penelope Hobhouse, who transformed the way people think about gardens. Widely recognised as the ‘Grande Dame’ of English garden design, Penelope Hobhouse was one of the most influential voices in horticulture for more than three decades. From the late 1970s to the early 2000s, a garden designed by Hobhouse represented the pinnacle of taste and sophistication, sought after by private clients across the world. Charting her remarkable life and career, this illustrated biography follows Hobhouse from her early years and the creation of her influential garden at Hadspen in Somerset, now part of The Newt, to her international success as a designer and writer. Along the way, it explores her work on prestigious projects, including commissions in the United States for clients such as Steve Jobs, and her celebrated collaboration with Audrey Hepburn on the television series Gardens of the World. Written and researched over three years, and drawing on interviews with Hobhouse herself, her family and her closest friends, this intimate portrait offers unparalleled insight into one of the most influential figures in modern garden design. With unrivalled access to Hobhouse’s personal archive and previously unpublished material, it reveals the people, experiences and creative vision behind her extraordinary life and career. Discover the woman behind some of the world’s most admired gardens and explore the enduring legacy of a pioneering figure whose influence can still be seen in gardens across the globe today.