In 1903 Edith Wharton was commissioned by Century Magazine to write a series of articles on Italian villas and gardens. She gathered her household together and set off with her husband, her housekeeper and her small dogs on a four-month tour of Italy. Her articles were published in 1904 as Italian Villas and their Gardens. One of the first books to treat the subject of Italian garden architecture seriously, it influenced a generation of garden writers and landscape architects. Nearly 100 years later, photographer and writer Vivian Russell set out on her own odyssey, following Edith Wharton's footsteps around Italy to photograph the best surviving gardens from her book and to tell the story of how each one was made. her lively text describes the patrons and architects who created the gardens and explores their hidden symbolic meaning.

Struck by the magnificence of the Italian countryside from the time of her first sojourn there, our ranking novelist and lady of letters of the early 1900s—a renowned connoisseur—joined forces with the foremost illustrator of the time to celebrate a subject that was dear to them both: the incomparable villas and gardens of Italy. Edith Wharton draws on three centuries of knowledge written in four languages and covers some eighty villas and sixty garden architects. She describes the remarkable splendor of the villas for readers who have never seen them, and leads the reader through her discoveries of why the great houses and grounds create an effect of such profound calm and resolution.Their impact is not merely a matter of ancient statues or splashing fountains—impressive as these may be. Rather, the unique harmony stems from the spirit of the architects' and the designers' art: that delicate blending of man's work and the variations of nature to achieve a sense of flawless concord. Her success in describing the Villa D'Este, the Villa Medici, and others, is enhanced and vivified by the breathtaking, full-color paintings of Maxfield Parrish.In his introductory essay, Henry Hope Reed, president of Classical America, places Italian Villas and Their Gardens in the context of American garden design at the turn of the century. Edith Wharton's thesis, that there is much value to be learned from the traditional Italian garden, helped to shape the American landscape of the era. In conveying the message, Maxfield Parrish proved a worthy acolyte. Thomas S. Hayes, who is president of the Edith Whatron Restoration, Inc., tells in his essay how the Italian model guided her in designing the garden of her famous country house, the Mount, at Lenox, Massachusetts.

Step into the luxurious world of Italian elegance with "Italian Villas and Their Gardens: Edith Wharton's Ode to Italian Elegance" by Edith Wharton. Prepare to be transported to the enchanting landscapes of Italy as Wharton's eloquent prose and keen eye for detail capture the beauty and splendor of Italian villas and their magnificent gardens. As you leaf through the pages of this exquisite book, you'll find yourself immersed in the opulence and grandeur of Italy's most breathtaking estates. Wharton's vivid descriptions and insightful commentary offer readers a glimpse into a world of timeless beauty and refined taste. But amidst the sumptuous surroundings, one question arises: What secrets and stories do these Italian villas hold, and what lessons can we learn from their timeless elegance and sophistication? Join Wharton on a journey of discovery and appreciation as she explores the history, architecture, and horticulture of Italy's most illustrious estates. From the tranquil gardens of Tuscany to the majestic palaces of Venice, each villa tells a story of artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. Are you ready to immerse yourself in the allure of Italian elegance and sophistication? Prepare to be captivated by the beauty and grandeur of "Italian Villas and Their Gardens" by Edith Wharton. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the splendor of Italy's most magnificent estates. Dive into this exquisite ode to Italian elegance now, and let yourself be transported to a world of unparalleled beauty and refinement. Seize the chance to explore the artistry and culture of Italy's historic villas. Purchase your copy of "Italian Villas and Their Gardens" today and embark on a journey of discovery and appreciation for the timeless beauty of Italian architecture and design.

Since the earliest Roman settlements, Italians have been expertly cultivating their land into beautiful and creative displays of nature, where terraces and walkways, plants and flowers, water and statuary are combined to provide a unique ad inspiring setting. The Italian garden has greatly evolved throughout the ages, taking on different forms, favoring different plants, and serving different purposes. Early Italian gardens made use of citrus, still regarded as an essential element for its bright fruit and shiny leaves. The ancient art of the topiary was revived in the Renaissance for its drama and elegance, and the refined parterre was developed to spread forth from the great palazzos and provide a dramatic view from their upper stories. Later, in the nineteenth century, the influence of the English garden took hold, with its meandering paths, asymmetrical lakes, and blossoming trees. In "Italian Gardens, author Judith Wade explores more than five hundred years of this tradition, discussing each of these developments and transporting the reader to thirty-seven of the most captivating gardens of Italy. Eleven regions are visited, from Lombardy and Piedmont in the north, to the island of Sicily in the south. Both small and grandiose, historic and contemporary gardens are featured. Travel with Wade to the aristocratic Villa Favorita in Lugano, where an avenue of cypresses welcomes those who approach; the English-style park of Villa Novare Bertani in Verona, with its seventeenth-century wine cellar; the eighteenth-century Avenue of the Camelias at Lucca's Villa Reale, where the American artist John Singer Sargent painted; and great examples of contemporary Italian landscapes, likeLa Mortella in Naples, which boasts more than eight hundred species of rare plants. As "living works of art" these changing displays of nature grow and bloom with the seasons. Smell the roses and lavender, feel the light