Really enjoyable collection of essays on some of the most interesting and notable gardens around the world. Travelling far and wide to the less obvious locations as well as some of the more obvious destinations. There will of course never be a definitive 'best' 80 gardens, and every reader will doubtless have some places they would have liked to see included (personally my choices might have included some bustans, monasteries or shrines of the Middle East. Plus maybe an island or two in some of the more unique botanical locations) , but Monty does his best to explain why each site is chosen, and what they mean to him.

Written in a close and very personable style, the author's charisma comes across as well as it does on screen. It reads as a very good travelogue as much as a book on gardening or horticulture. Lavishly illustrated with good photographs, it would make a great gift for anyone interested in garden history and/or travel. My only criticism of it is that there could have been included some general and more specific location maps, for both aesthetic and practical reasons. ( )

Great addition to the series. Monty Don is a real inspiration. ( )