author
Charles Thonger
1882–1954
Known for early 20th-century books on garden planning, he wrote with the eye of a designer and the instincts of a practical gardener. His work helped make beautiful, well-ordered outdoor spaces feel achievable for ordinary readers.
1 Audiobook
The book of garden design
by Charles Thonger
About the author
Charles Thonger, more fully identified in library and public-domain records as Charles Eric Thurland Thonger, was an English author associated with landscape architecture, horticulture, and garden design. Reliable catalog sources connect him with The Book of Garden Design (1905), and records of his life point to a lifespan of 1879–1954 rather than 1882–1954.
His surviving reputation rests on clear, useful books about shaping gardens and outdoor spaces. Alongside The Book of Garden Design, archive and catalog records also link him with titles such as The Book of Garden Furniture and The Book of Rock and Water Gardens, suggesting a writer interested not just in plants, but in the overall look, structure, and livability of a garden.
Even now, Thonger is best remembered as a guide to the art of making gardens both attractive and practical. His books belong to that appealing tradition of early garden writing that mixes design ideas with hands-on advice, making them enjoyable for readers who love either landscape history or the simple pleasure of planning a garden.