The sumptuous Topkapı Palace in eighteenth century Istanbul is a place of breathtaking splendour where human foibles, love, lust and above all greed reign supreme in the lives of a sultan, a painter, a grand vizier and some of the world’s most beautiful women. Imperial favour has raised a graceful blossom to the symbol of a time that history would later name the Tulip Era. Sultan Ahmed III reigns over a still vast empire as his close companion and Chief Imperial Painter Levnî creates exquisite works of art. But real power lies with his trusted Grand Vizier İbrahim Pasha. In the background, the radiant denizens of the imperial harem fight for supremacy in their cloistered universe. How will history record Sultan Ahmed III? Hedonist, aesthete or reformer? What will happen to his descendants? 'Unto the Tulip Gardens: My Shadow' is a novel founded on historical fact woven by the silken yarn of imagination.

“The Story of the Garden” provides a detailed history of the garden, exploring its origins and development throughout the ages. Contents include: “The Traditional Influence of Ancient Garden Lore”, “The Mediaeval Garden”, “The Tudor Age”, “Stuart Times”, “French and Dutch Influences”, “The Georgian Period”, “The Landscape School and the Victorian and Edwardian Eras”, “American Gardens”, “List of Plants from 'The Feate of Gardening, by Mayster Ion Gardener”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction. This book was first published in 1932.