Gardens both real and imagined have long captured our imaginations. They are places of mystery and magic, beauty and danger, romance and revelation; writers have used them to reflect longing and create unforgettable moments of drama, escape and wonder.

Literary Gardens explores thirty of the most atmospheric and emotionally charged gardens in literature. From The Secret Garden and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to Rebecca and The Great Gatsby, these fictional gardens capture the atmosphere and emotion of the stories they belong to. Some feel peaceful or nostalgic, others are rich with mystery or unspoken tension – each is shaped by the characters and moments that are revealed within them. In Literary Gardens, readers will uncover new stories and rediscover old favourites, guided by Sandra Lawrence’s lyrical storytelling and Lucille Clerc’s evocative vision.

Literary Gardens is a tribute to the spaces that have stayed with us long after the final page – a perfect gift for yourself, or anyone who has ever wanted to step through the page and into another world.

Sandra Lawrence has written for all the broadsheets and many magazines, as well as over 20 books, including Lost Gardens of the World (Frances Lincoln), Miss Willmott’s Ghosts (Bonnier) and The Witch’s Garden series for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Welbeck (The Witch’s Garden, The Magic of Mushrooms, The Witch’s Forest and The Psychedelic Garden). For children, she is the author of the Atlas series (Atlas of Beasts; Atlas of Heroes, Big Picture Press), Anthology of Amazing Women (Templar) and A Magical Guide to Plants (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Welbeck).Lucille Clerc is a French illustrator based in London. She mainly works in editorial design and book illustration and sometimes designs interior and exhibition spaces. Her work is inspired by the natural world and the streets and architecture of London.