The Garden Against Time is my first Olivia Laing but I will certainly be eagerly immersing myself in the rest of their backlist. 

I absolutely loved Olivia Laing’s lyrical yet informative writing. Paired with the vivid imagery and references to other works of art, the book drew me in completely, much like stepping into a garden, such as Derek Jarman’s stark but beautiful creation in Dungeness. 

Having spent most of my life in the South of England and a few years in Norfolk, I felt immensely privileged to picture many of the gardens and works of art that Laing describes. This familiarity added a unique layer to my reading experience and made the exploration of the inherent colonialism of the British garden all the more impactful.  

What I loved most about this book was the incredible depth and breadth of themes that Laing weaves so seamlessly through her exploration of paradise. Liberation, anti-colonialism, queer love, and community solidarity, and healing are just some of the  topics you’ll encounter in these pages.