The Gardens of Suzhou

"Henderson, a talented landscape architect and designer himself, offers a helpful representation and unique tour of this collection of some of China's most famous gardens. . . . He sees the gardens afresh and leads one through, pointing out what is special, what is ordinary, separating the generic from the unique, the lighthearted from the grand. He is sensitive to their subtlety, nuance, wit, seasonality, perfume, sounds, twists and turns, drawing out aspects of their poetic nature. . . . I would love to be in Suzhou on a cool spring day and to set out in the morning with this guide in my pack. . . . to visit these places, to sit in them sipping tea while reading his thoughtful observations and wry comments, turning to his directions for the next path or garden. In this [book] are wisdom, perception, and genuine guidance." (Laurie Olin, University of Pennsylvania)