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Informazioni sul libro
The Gardener's Year - Illustrated by Josef Capek
Di Karel Capek
Azioni libro
Inizia a leggereDescrizione
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
Azioni libro
Inizia a leggereInformazioni sul libro
The Gardener's Year - Illustrated by Josef Capek
Di Karel Capek
Descrizione
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
Informazioni sull'autore
KC![]()
Recensioni
Originally published in Czech in 1929 and published in English in 1931, The Gardener's Year is a collection of droll essays arranged to correspond to months of the year. Capek gently pokes fun at the desire of gardeners to start digging before the soil is ready in the Spring; to wish (always) for more rain; to become obsessed by particular plants, or rather all plants; to prefer soil and manure to flowers. A few passages are laugh-out-loud funny; a few are profound; most are good-natured and facetious. My 1984 University of Wisconsin Press edition has illustrations, apparently reprinted from the first edition, drawn by Capek's brother Josef Capek. These look disconcertingly like inferior versions of James Thurber cartoons, but pre-date them.
Famous Czech author Karel Capek entertains readers with a month-by-month rendering of real life gardening. He totally enjoys getting carried away in his subject, making a case for October actually being Spring for gardeners, as well for the "Now!" of buds, and the steaming glory of a newly delivered mound of fresh manure. His humor combines well with his brother Josef's line drawing interpretations until "the malice of human souls" deforms their country courtesy of The Munich Pact.Though Karel Capek often mentions women favorably, all his fellow gardenersare male. No reason is offered though maybe this was standard in the early 20th century...?He once raised vegetables to the tune of crunching "...every day one hundred and twenty radishes,because no one else would eat them...." He further admits that he has become tenderhearted about eating what he has grown: "If I were obliged to eat my roses or nibble the flowers of lilies-of-the-valley, I think I should lose the respect which I have towards them." And they toward him!
A very sweet little book about a man and his garden. I chuckled my way through this, and as an avid gardener it was easy to recognize myself in what was described. Who hasn't bought a ton of plants that one just "must have" only to find that there is hardly any space left in the garden to plant them. I'm sure this would make a very popular gift to people who love gardening. I also loved the humorous illustrations.
Although I am a rather clumsy gardener and I am plagued by rabbits and gophers and deer ( oh my!), I do share Capek's enthusiasm for gardening.
I re-read this book every year. It inspires me and gives me solace in the long dark days of Winter.
This is a light-hearted introduction to the work of Karel Capek, one of the best European writers from the last century.
I re-read this book every year. It inspires me and gives me solace in the long dark days of Winter.
This is a light-hearted introduction to the work of Karel Capek, one of the best European writers from the last century.
Ein amüsantes, kurzweiliges Buch über den Autor und seinen Garten, dem man fast gar nicht anmerkt, dass es schon 1929 erschienen ist. Man wird kein besserer Gärtner durch das Buch, aber sehr gut unterhalten.