"He is a traveller in a time of discovery, and the greatest gardening pioneer of his day. Yet John Tradescant is a man of humble birth, trusted by the kingdom's greatest leaders: politicians, aristocrats, even royalty. Surrounded by luxury and intrigue, Tradescant gives all his attention to his magnificent gardens, in the midst of a society on the brink of upheaval.

Uniquely skilled at collecting, raising and nurturing plants, his practical good sense makes him an invaluble servan, as he scours teh known world for new and beautiful species, and penetrates the most secret activities at court. Here both King Charles I and Tradescant are in thrall to the irrestistable Duke Of Buckingham, the most powerful man in England.

Tradescant has always been faithful to his masters, but Buckingham is unlike any he's ever known: flamboyant, outrageously charming, utterly reckless. The court may love him, but the people hate him. Every certainty upon which Tradescant has based his life is challenged as his personal world is turned upside down while all around him the country slides towards civil war."

Well, I didn't think I'd like this book, but I did enjoy it! I only read it as it was a free find in our work dept's bookshelf, and I'd shameless "borrowed" it to send to a fellow BXer. I thought I'd best have a quick read, just to see if it was as good as "The Other Boyeln Girl", "The Queen's Fool" and "The Virgin's Lover" - and it was!
This is being posted to Mandi a.k.a. thegoaliegirl today with the guide book of Cambridge I bought for her to show her fellow students who are coming over from the US to study in the UK.

I just received this book today. The Cambridge book will be passed on to other students tomorrow. I am so excited to read Earthly joys! You made my day! I loved the card! Can't wait to read this!

Recently discovered this book, when trying to re-organize the boxes of stuff I have (no room to unpack still). I really wasn't too sure what I would think of this book, but I absolutely loved it! I had a hard time putting it down. It was amazingly well written and so intriguing. It took me two days to read it. I love her books and have yet to find one that I didn't love. Sometimes a book this thick (almost 500 pages) can be a bit intimidating but I found myself wishing that it wouldn't end. Was delighted to hear that Virgin Earth is a continuation of it. I can't wait to read that one. Thanks so much for sharing this book with me. You're such a sweet person! This was one of the best books I've read in a long time!

Would like to turn this book into a book ray. I'm trying to make an effort to keep those books moving, esp those that I didn't register. I really enjoyed this book and would like the chance for other people to enjoy it as well.

To help ensure that things run smoothly (or that is the plan anyhow), I've put together a few rough guidelines for this one. I know that some people take longer to read a book (busy, got a bunch of books to read before, work, etc)...

1. Please try to have this book read within 3 weeks. I know this isn't possible, but if you make an effort to try that is all I can ask.

2. Please journal when you receive the book.

3. When about halfway through, please contact the next person on the list for their mailing address.

4. Please journal again when you've read the book and it is on its way.

5. Have fun! Reading is supposed to be fun!

6. To the last person in the ray: Please keep this book moving... RABCK it, give it to a friend, etc... just please keep it moving once you're done reading it. Thanks!


Sending order:
indygo88-IN (USA)
stacyinthecity-NY (USA)
sweetybeans-OR
rootmartin-MA
Twynnie-UK
JudeK_UK
hetku77-Finland(Europe) <---- book is here

If interested, please PM with your location and shipping preferences. I'll PM back. If you don't hear from me after a few days, then I didn't get your PM. My computer isn't set up yet due to lack of space in my current location, so I have to check my email at work. If you don't hear from me right away, please be patient. Thanks!

It's here! Although I have a couple of Philippa Gregory's books on my shelf, this will be the first one that I get to actually read.

10/21/06 -- Just an update...this has been a horrendous month for me re: "stuff" to do, so it's taken me longer than usual to complete this book. I'm about half way through now and hoping to finish it up within a week or so. Thanks for your patience, everyone!

This being my first Philippa Gregory book, I can't really compare this to her others. This took me a little longer to get through than I had hoped, both because this was a busy month for me and because I found parts of the book slow-moving. It's not what I would call a really gripping tale, and you have to have a little patience and/or appreciation for the excessive detail re: plants, gardening, etc. It really did make me want to be there in the gardens, though -- at times I really wished I could transport myself there because they sounded so beautiful and peaceful. I think the running theme of this book would have to be "physical beauty", and that would be true on several layers. I think the book could've been shorter and gotten the same message across. That being said, the ending was a bit rushed, I thought, but overall a good book. I think I will be adding the sequel, "Virgin Earth" to my wishlist now! :')

I am awaiting a mailing address from the next person in line, and this will be sent out once I receive it. Thanks for sharing, goaliegirl!

Stacyinthecity has asked to be skipped due to bookring overload, so I'm shipping this off instead today to sweetybeans! Happy travels! :')

just recieved this one. i am in the middle of another, but will get to asap :)

Thanks for sharing another phillipa gregory book goaliegirl!!! as always i love her writing. the story was compelling and i felt like it was a continuation of the boylen books, but from another perspective of the courts. i was so caught up in the book i stayed up until one in the morning to read it. i was dissapointed when it ended, but am very exicted to read the next one (as soon as i find a copy of the virgin earth)... sorry it took so long to finish, truly worth the read :)

Just received in the mail today. I have two books ahead of it but should get to it in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for sharing! I've really enjoyed the other Philippa Gregory books that I've read so I'm looking forward to this one.

So, I finished up this book over the weekend. I must say that I was actually disappointed in this book. I really enjoyed two other Gregory books that I read -- The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool. However, I didn't enjoy this book half as much. In addition, I thought that the book was far too long and that it could have been significantly edited down.

It appears, from the other journal entries, that my perspective is in the minority so I'm sure that there will be many happy readers of this book down the road.

I'm putting the book in the mail to Twynnie tomorrow. Happy traveling!

Edited 1/17: I mailed the book to Twynnie today. This is the my first release within the 2007 Keep It Moving Challenge.

It has arrived safe and sound! I'm looking forward to reading this one. Thanks to thegoaliegirl for sharing and to rootmartin for passing it on to me.

Well, John Tradescant certainly had an interesting life for a gardener! I very much enjoyed this although it took me a little longer to read than I thought (It does move slowly during some parts of the story). I thought the way Philippa Gregory can create an authentic period atmosphere is wonderful, she obviously does her research.

I have PMed JudeK twice but had no response as yet. So I will try an ISO soon and then move on to the next reader if there is no response after that.

Just started this book. Will pm probably next week.

Really enjoyed this book. Will definitely have to read another Philippa Gregory.Have just pm'd next reader.

in the post tomorrow

5.4.2007 I received the book by mail today. Thank you, JudeK_UK!

19.4.2013 I finished reading the book a few days ago. I've read other books by Philippa Gregory before, mainly the Tudor series. And I have to admit that I liked those more than Earthly Joys. Not that the story wasn't interesting, but not as interesting as those about Tudors. I do have the sequel waiting in my bookshelf.

The book is reserved to someone, who has wished for it.

Welcome to the world of Bookcrossing! Hope you enjoy this book.