Michael Gilson will present his book "Behind the Privet Hedge -Richard Sudell, the Suburban Garden and the Beautification of Britain" here at our bookshop Thursday, 11th July.
It is said that Britain is a nation of gardeners; the suburban garden, with its roses and privet hedges, is widely admired and copied across the world. But it is little understood how millions across the nation developed an obsession with their colourful plots of land. Behind the Privet Hedge explores the history of this development and how, despite their stereotype as symbols of dull, middle-class conformity, these new open spaces were seen as a tool to help bring about social change in the early twentieth century. The book restores to the story a remarkable but long-forgotten figure, Richard Sudell, who spent a lifetime 'evangelizing' that the garden be in the vanguard of progress towards a new egalitarian society.
Date and time
- The café will be open until 5:30, so guests can have a drink before the talk.
- 5:30 to 6:30/7:00 Talk starts at the library.
- After the talk, guests will go to the bookshop for a signing session up to 7:30
Location
Quaker Bookshop at Friends House 173-177 Euston Road London NW1 2BJ