author
George H. (George Herman) Ellwanger
1848–1906
Best known for writing about houses, gardens, and good dining, this Rochester horticulturist brought a warm, thoughtful eye to the pleasures of everyday life. His books mix practical taste with a love of beauty, making them feel both cultured and inviting.
2 Audiobooks
The story of my house
by George H. (George Herman) Ellwanger
The Pleasures of the Table An Account of Gastronomy from Ancient Days to Present Times. With a History of Its Literature, Schools, and Most Distinguished Artists; Together With Some Special Recipes, and Views Concerning the Aesthetics of Dinners and Dinner-giving
by George H. (George Herman) Ellwanger
About the author
Born in Rochester, New York, on July 10, 1848, George Herman Ellwanger grew up in a family deeply connected to horticulture. He studied the subject in Europe for several years before returning home to take an active role in the family nursery business, a major part of Rochester's gardening history.
Alongside that work, he built a reputation as an essayist and author with a gift for making refined subjects feel approachable. His best-known books include The Story of My House and The Pleasures of the Table, works that reflect his interest in domestic life, gardens, architecture, and the art of dining.
Ellwanger died in 1906, but his writing still offers a charming window into a world where beauty, comfort, and daily rituals mattered deeply. He wrote with the sensibility of someone who cared not only how people lived, but how they might live a little more gracefully.