Garden Gnomes: A History (Shire Library)

Garden Gnomes: A History by Twigs Way is another of Shire's nicely designed reference books. A historian of gardening, the author tells the story of these European garden accents. She explores their origins (beliefs of dwarfs, nisser, and tomtar), studies the craft of their production, and charts their rise and fall in popularity. The text is illustrated with pages from period catalogs and photographs of gnomes in gardens throughout history. The book ends with a view of garden gnomes' affect on modern pop culture, with a mention of the trend in gnome liberation (stealing and relocating the ornaments as a prank).

Great history of garden gnomes. We especially liked the reference to the gnomes on the cover of George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album.

This little book has a great history of the ebb and flow of gnomedom. It is an in depth journey that is enjoyable and rather exciting. Be prepared the printing is tiny and you will likely want to go buy more gnomes for your collection!! Enjoy the read, it's pithy!!

Spine is bent a little, but it looks fine.

insightful

For those in need of a comprehensive history of garden gnomes, the wait is over. Twigs Way's history is authoritative and generously illustrated. From the gnomes' emergence in Germany to their migration to Britain, every step along the way is covered: their being banned from the Chelsea flower show, the rise of the `naughty gnomes', the Chinese cheapo knockoffs, the rediscovery of the art in contemporary America, and so on. It's all here and the text is replete with illustrations, most in color, some in sepia photographs. We see the impact of the gnomes on popular culture (their use in advertising, e.g.) and we see classic examples of the craft and their proper display. While the book is printed on lovely paper stock, the text is so small as to be barely legible. Whether this has something to do with homage to the subject, printing house style or some other reason, this is a significant problem. For my eyes at least, the book can only be read under a bright, focused light. Some of the images are also so small that one can barely discern their details. The text is very nicely written, with just the right mix of scholarship, humor, and arch tone. It is a delight to read (once you create the conditions under which you can actually see it). If garden gnomes are your thing, begin here for a thorough exploration of the subject.

My wife and I are revamping a very long garden that the former owner had allowed to become a wilderness, or rather a jungle of brambles and nettles. In planning the new garden, a sudden and unaccountable desire to think about gnomes attacked me (this strange occurrence has not, however, affected the mrs!). A quick google led me to this title. I decided that, before inviting any gnomes into our garden, I'd buy this and find out a bit more. Initially it was the pics I focussed on, and there's a good selection, my favourites being of the older variety, circa 1850s-1950s. The old German catalogue pics are bizarrely charming. But, the truth is, even after perusing these many and varied pics, and even having subsequently read the lighthearted but informative text - a history of gnomes, as the title says - I'm as confused as ever as to what I personally make of gnomes. Still, this small slim Shire title, by the almost gnomishly named Twigs Way, is a fun introduction-cum-diversion...

Good delivery time- book bought in a light hearted way for friends wedding present along with a garden gnome for new garden ! but they found this little book really enjoyable and informative and have since bought second gnome as company for first !

Bought as a present for a friend but discovered they already had it. Still, they kept the book anyway and appreciated the thought. Well illistrated and informative..

The book was a bit smaller than I'd anticipated, but the friend who received it as a gift found it very interesting and added it to their library. Politeness perhaps?

Garden Gnomes: A History by Twigs Way is another of Shire's nicely designed reference books. A historian of gardening, the author tells the story of these European garden accents. She explores their origins (beliefs of dwarfs, nisser, and tomtar), studies the craft of their production, and charts their rise and fall in popularity. The text is illustrated with pages from period catalogs and photographs of gnomes in gardens throughout history. The book ends with a view of garden gnomes' affect on modern pop culture, with a mention of the trend in gnome liberation (stealing and relocating the ornaments as a prank).

Great history of garden gnomes. We especially liked the reference to the gnomes on the cover of George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album.

This little book has a great history of the ebb and flow of gnomedom. It is an in depth journey that is enjoyable and rather exciting. Be prepared the printing is tiny and you will likely want to go buy more gnomes for your collection!! Enjoy the read, it's pithy!!

Spine is bent a little, but it looks fine.

insightful

For those in need of a comprehensive history of garden gnomes, the wait is over. Twigs Way's history is authoritative and generously illustrated. From the gnomes' emergence in Germany to their migration to Britain, every step along the way is covered: their being banned from the Chelsea flower show, the rise of the `naughty gnomes', the Chinese cheapo knockoffs, the rediscovery of the art in contemporary America, and so on. It's all here and the text is replete with illustrations, most in color, some in sepia photographs. We see the impact of the gnomes on popular culture (their use in advertising, e.g.) and we see classic examples of the craft and their proper display. While the book is printed on lovely paper stock, the text is so small as to be barely legible. Whether this has something to do with homage to the subject, printing house style or some other reason, this is a significant problem. For my eyes at least, the book can only be read under a bright, focused light. Some of the images are also so small that one can barely discern their details. The text is very nicely written, with just the right mix of scholarship, humor, and arch tone. It is a delight to read (once you create the conditions under which you can actually see it). If garden gnomes are your thing, begin here for a thorough exploration of the subject.

My wife and I are revamping a very long garden that the former owner had allowed to become a wilderness, or rather a jungle of brambles and nettles. In planning the new garden, a sudden and unaccountable desire to think about gnomes attacked me (this strange occurrence has not, however, affected the mrs!). A quick google led me to this title. I decided that, before inviting any gnomes into our garden, I'd buy this and find out a bit more. Initially it was the pics I focussed on, and there's a good selection, my favourites being of the older variety, circa 1850s-1950s. The old German catalogue pics are bizarrely charming. But, the truth is, even after perusing these many and varied pics, and even having subsequently read the lighthearted but informative text - a history of gnomes, as the title says - I'm as confused as ever as to what I personally make of gnomes. Still, this small slim Shire title, by the almost gnomishly named Twigs Way, is a fun introduction-cum-diversion...

Good delivery time- book bought in a light hearted way for friends wedding present along with a garden gnome for new garden ! but they found this little book really enjoyable and informative and have since bought second gnome as company for first !

Bought as a present for a friend but discovered they already had it. Still, they kept the book anyway and appreciated the thought. Well illistrated and informative..

The book was a bit smaller than I'd anticipated, but the friend who received it as a gift found it very interesting and added it to their library. Politeness perhaps?

I bought this as a present for a gnome enthusiast so although it is not very interesting to me the recipient will enjoy reading it