Customer Reviews
Doesn't live up to the standards of the TV programme it is based on - By: MaxC, 18 Jun 2008 
I'm an admirer of Monty Don & I enjoyed the TV series this book is based on. But the book is far too sketchy to be satisfying; there's simply not enough material here, not enough photographs, too few insights.
If this is an Around the World trip, it's one of those lightning coach tours full of camera snapping tourists ("If it's Tuesday it must be Paris").
Worth a read, but not worth the asking price. As someone has commented before, just borrow it from the library; the publishers have let Monty down with this one.
Disappointing - By: Shoreham girl, 30 Apr 2008 
I bought this book after being captivated by the images in the first programme in the TV series. But I was deeply disappointed to find that there are very few photographs of the stunning gardens, & most of these contain Monty! I'm a big fan of Monty but would have preferred to see the gardens without him. The writing is good, but as I bought it (unseen) for the photos I wish I had borrowed it from the library first.
Read it but don't buy it - By: Undergardener, 25 Apr 2008 
I bought this a couple of months ago. It is very literate & clear, but contains so many spelling mistakes that I wonder if it was properly proof-read. The illustrations are very amateurish. Worth reading - not worth buying! In other words, GTTL (Go To The Library).
Self Indulgence - By: K. Platt, 08 Apr 2008 I was going to purchase this, but got it from my local library & I'm glad I can put it back on the shelf. The selected gardens are for the most part obvious, although most are very interesting but I find the photos of Monty in each garden extremely egotistical & very offputting.
Excellent - but ! - By: L. J. Adlington, 02 Feb 2008 
I love Monty Don's writing, as the previous review states in his comments - 'it feel's personal' & you get a reallly good feel of what he is seeing on his tour of the gardens. The details of his note taking etc. make it a more enjoyable read than a book that is just factual. I felt that you were getting an honest review of how he felt at the time of writing & being human enough to comment on how he might feel differently at other times of visiting some of them. My disapointment came from the appearance of the book & wish that they had kept more to the look of 'The Jewel Garden' which captured me straight away from the beautiful photography on the front cover & the pics inside. If there had been more photographs to show what Monty is describing in "Around the world in 80 Gardens' it may have benefited from it, but I think this has been the publishers at fault rather than Monty Don. I must admit I hated the cover design if I had been the Co. who had produced it I don't think I would have put my website on the inside flap. Well done to Montague though, & long may he continue writing in this engaging manner.
