Wildest Place on Earth

Author/Contributor(s):	Mitchell, John Hanson
Publisher:	Counterpoint
Date:	4/25/2002
Binding:	Paperback
Condition:	NEW

A compelling inquiry of the meaning of wilderness follows the author's exploration of local landscapes such as a hedge maze and town parks in search of that essential contact with nature.

This is the ironic story of how Italian Renaissance and Baroque gardens encouraged the preservation of the American wilderness and ultimately fostered the creation of the world’s first national park system. Told via Mitchell’s sometimes disastrous and humorous travels--from the gardens of southern Italy up through Tuscany and the lake island gardens--the book is filled with history, folklore, myths, and legends of Western Europe, including a detailed history of the labyrinth, a common element in Renaissance gardens. In his attempt to understand the Italian garden in detail, Mitchell set out to create one on his own property--with a labyrinth.