Review of Willes "Gardens of the British Working Class" (original) (raw)

Willes' "The Gardens of the British Working Class" attempts to fill a gap in British gardening literature by shedding light on the gardening practices of the working class. While the author offers a wealth of materials and anecdotes, the review criticizes the book for its condescending tone, lack of clear political commitment, and inadequate exploration of the diverse genres of working-class gardening. Notably, the book fails to interrogate the concept of 'working class' and overlooks significant historical developments, leaving unaddressed the transformative potential of gardening for this group.