As 2016 is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, here’s the perfect book to hunker down with (until decent gardening-weather returns).
‘Shakepeare’s Gardens’ by Jackie Bennett hasn’t been released yet but Anxious Gardener Inc. (East Sussex) has a shiny new copy up for grabs. If you’d like the chance to win it, I’ll tell you how to enter the draw after this press release from publisher, Frances Lincoln:
Shakespeare’s Gardens tells the story of the gardens that William Shakespeare knew as a boy and as a man. More than four centuries after the playwright lived, whenever we think of thyme, violets or roses, we more often than not still remember a quote from the plays and sonnets written by him.
William Shakespeare was born and lived in Stratford-upon-Avon for much of his fifty-two years, finding fame in London’s theatre world, but returning to his home town in later life. He came to symbolize not only the reawakening of theatre, but also of Elizabethan cultural life in all its myriad forms – including its fascination with flowers.
The five Stratford-upon-Avon gardens represent the different phases of Shakespeare’s life – from his birthplace in Henley Street, to his childhood playground at Mary Arden’s Farm, to his courting days at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and his final home at New Place – where he created a garden to reflect his fame and wealth.
Cared for by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, these gardens are continually evolving to reflect our ongoing knowledge of his life. For the first time, Shakespeare’s Gardens brings together brand-new photography of the gardens with beautiful archive images of flowers, old herbals and sixteenth-century illustrations. It tells the story of Shakespeare’s journey – from glove maker’s son to national poet – and how he came to know so much about plants, flowers and gardens of his time.
JACKIE BENNETT has written six gardening books including The Writer’s Garden (Frances Lincoln, 2014). She writes for The English Garden magazine and is a former editor of The Garden Design Journal.
ANDREW LAWSON is a distinguished garden photographer. Awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal for photography and twice winner of the Garden Media Guild’s Photographer of the Year Award, he has illustrated books by many authors, including Rosemary Verey, Tim Richardson, Mary Keen and HRH The Prince of Wales.
You want it, don’t you? ‘Shakespeare’s Gardens’ is published on the 3rd of March and to enter the draw simply:
say so in the “Any Thoughts?” box below
and
(if you don’t do so already) follow ‘The Anxious Gardener’ blog; follow me on Twitter and/or like The Anxious Gardener Facebook page. The relevant follow buttons are top right of this page.
and
send me a crisp £10.00 note (No – Ed)
You can also enter via Twitter or Facebook – check my twitter feed and FB page for details.
Please note that the prize can only be posted to a UK postal address.
The competition will close at midnight on Sunday 28th February 2016.
I’ll draw a name from my
contact the winner and add the result to the bottom of this post.
Good luck!
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*UK ONLY – Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.
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I’ve come here via Rusty Duck and have just followed you 🙂 I’d love a copy of this book, so please put my name in the hat. Thank you!
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Hi Sam, thanks but I’m afraid the draw closed on 28th February (result at bottom of the post). Sorry.
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Oops, that’ll teach me to read more carefully! I’m pleased to have found your blog nonetheless 🙂
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Please may I enter? Thank you!
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I would love to enter the giveaway. Thank you! x
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Would love to win
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Please enter me, thank you
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Would love to win! (Danika Grace on FB)
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Oh I’d love to enter to win this please 🙂
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I would love to win!!
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I’d like to enter this to give to my auntie! She absolutely loves gardening and is always looking for new things to try in her own garden
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I’d love this book! I love Shakespeare so why not bring him into the garden?
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I would love to win this book for inspiration on what to do in my own garden!
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Looks a lovely book and living not far away from Shakespeare birthplace would be so interesting.
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I want to win
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Would love this book, to get some ideas on planting and maybe some new styles x
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Love to win this book
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I would like to win
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Would love to be entered to win ‘Shakespeare’s Gardens’ thank you ♥
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I’d like to be entered please.
Thank you for the opportunity x
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What a beautiful book, I would love to win this, thanks
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Please count me in, thanks! 🙂
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Yes please
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I would love to win a copy for my mother in law as she loves her garden.
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What an absolutely beautiful book! This would take pride of place on my coffee table as I am a both a keen gardener and a massive Shakespeare addict! This book would feed my addiction pretty easily! I follow you on twitter as @solarsangel
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I’d love a copy.
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Ooh a gorgeous book with beautiful gardens. Perfect for… Well… Me! I’m a bit selfish when it comes to books about gardens. Fingers crossed!!!
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Hope to WIN
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Looks nice for the wife.
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Yes please
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I would love this book. I enjoy Shakespeare and live near Stratford-upon-Avon so it would be perfect.
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I would love a copy of this lovely book
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Nice prize! I’d love a copy.
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What a lovely book , I’d love to win this one! Good luck everyone.
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Please Count Me IN 🙂
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UI would really love this book, could do with a new bit of inspiration xx
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I want it but can’t have it as I am not in the UK! However I will say thank you very much for featuring books such as these because I more often than not add your featured give aways to my Book Depository wish list and buy them when I feel like treating myself!
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I did double check with the publishers re postings overseas but no luck I’m afraid. Sorry. Dave
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I would love to win such a great looking book.
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I would love to win this, looks fascinating
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What a lovely book – I want it
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I really want to win this.
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I want it, I want it!!!
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I want it, I want it!!!
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Sounds like a beautiful book. x
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I would relish this book …thank you Sue
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You’re welcome Sue.
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excellent please enter me
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I’d really like to win this lovely looking book.
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Would love to win this
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I live near Stratford = would be great to have more insight into the lovely gardens there.
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I would love to win, looks very interesting.
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Great prize, thank you for the chance.
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Trying to make my garden really special this year. I’d love to win this for inspiration.
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I’d love it – it looks totally charming!
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looks fantastic
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I want it
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Count me in please
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Yet another fabulous giveaway that I’d love to win.
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What a great prize, I would love to win this
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Thank you for the chance of such an interesting read! I follow on Twitter and Facebook.
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As someone who has spent a number of years studying both Shakespeare & gardening, this sounds like my perfect book. I’d love a copy.
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Good luck to you Rej. D
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I would love to win a copy of this book. Thank you
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Literature and gardening – my two favourite hobbies in one book – wonderful.
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Yes, please! Would love to win
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Yes please its a lovely giveaway 🙂
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Would love to win
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yes please thanks for the chance
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I want it, it looks a great book
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Yes please I would be thrilled if I won this book.
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I would love to win a copy of this book
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Enter me, please 🙂
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I do love cottage garden plants, I will be on watch for when this book gets published and released.
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Sorry you’re not eligible, Charlie.
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Yes please,want this for my mum.
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I want it!
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I would love to win a copy of this book, it looks fascinating. Cottage garden plants are my favourites.
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Please enter my name in to the draw, hope all is going well with the restorations.
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Thanks Julie – we’re getting there. First room plastered! Good luck in the draw. D
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My mother in law would love this. She loves doing gardening, and watching gardening programmes
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Sounds like a very interesting book with great images to accompany the text – a book I would love to win and snuggle up reading 🙂
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I study Herbalism and Shakespeare is always a reference. I would like to know more on the matter.
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yes please I would love to win
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“so”
That is all (just). See I can follow instructions! 😉
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You are a bright spark and make no mistake. Good luck. Dave
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It would be fun to surprise lovely cousin in Walmley. I would love to win.
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I have a friend in the UK who would love this book – please enter my name! Thank you very much.
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You’re welcome Eliza and good luck. D
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Here’s flowers for you;
Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram;
The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ the sun
And with him rises weeping: these are flowers
Of middle summer, and I think they are given
To men of middle age.
The Winter’s Tale (IV.iv)
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Beautifully put. I’ve put your name in the hat btw? (Exit, pursued by bear). D
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That looks like a fabulous book, I’d love to win a copy!
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What a delightful book.Just the cover is totally inspirational! I must get out and about this year and visit some of the gardens. Would love to win this delightful book.
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How lovely, went to Anne Hathaway’s house as a child and it definitely was an inspiration for my love of cottage gardens, would love this for a friend who is going to The Globe on Shakespeare’s birthday and then along to see the riverbank Shakespeare productions.
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What an great book to come out this year – would love to win it for my father in law who is putting on a number of Shakespeare plays with his local am dram company!
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