Sunlight on the lawn - Beverley Nichols

Sunlight on the Lawn brings to a close Beverley Nichols's delightful Merry Hall trilogy describing the renovation of his run-down Georgian mansion and its garden.

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Beverley Nichols (1898-1983) was a prolific writer on subjects ranging from religion to politics and travel, in addition to authoring six novels, five detective mysteries, four children's stories, six autobiographies, and six plays. He is perhaps best remembered today for his gardening books. The first of them, Down the Garden Path, centered on his home and garden at Glatton and has been in print almost continuously since 1932. Merry Hall (1951) and its sequels Laughter on the Stairs (1953) and Sunlight on the Lawn (1956) document Nichols' travails in renovating a Georgian mansion and its gardens soon after the war. His final garden was at Sudbrook Cottage, which serves as the setting for Garden Open Today (1963) and Garden Open Tomorrow (1968). The progress of all three gardens was followed avidly by readers of his books and weekly magazine columns.

"Be prepared. Beverley Nichols' garden books are part PG Wodehouse and part James Barrie-full of hilarious Jeeves-like characters and events, with moments of Peter Pan magic." -Pacific Horticulture

"Delightful. . . . best read on a sunny day while lounging in your own garden hammock." -Buffalo Spree

"The Nichols books are gardening classics; after reading one volume, you will want to read the others, so it would be best to buy all three at the outset." -Journal of the New England Garden History Society

"I can think of no better book to start the new century than one that reflects the best of the old in such gracious, entertaining style." -Hull Daily Mail

"First published in 1956. . . . it still holds great charm." -Choice

"In his entertaining and inimitable manner, Beverly Nichols wraps up his trilogy on the renovation of Merry Hall and its garden." -American Rhododendron Society Journal

"Garden vicariously with Mr. Nichols and expect to be captivated." -American Rhododendron Society Journal

"This trilogy is consistently delightful, gentle, witty, and charming. Reading these books is like having your back scratched by your best friend. . . . it's all so pleasant, you wish it will never end." -Iowa Source

"The charm of Merry Hall, Laughter on the Stairs (mostly about the house) and Sunlight on the Lawn is undeniable, a mixture of the lyrical, the teasing, the understatedly witty and the self-mockingly camp." -Daily Telegraph