This feat of originality is an affectionate and nostalgic ode to the garden lawn. Fort's sardonic tone and whimsical style jauntily carry the reader along throughout the historical development and significance of the lawn. An incredible obsession with all things grassy is unearthed here, with the lawn taking its place as an integral part of English culture. A certain ritual is attached to the management of a lawn and Fort accurately conjures up a Saturday morning scene in suburban England complete with the buzz of lawnmowers, the splash of hosepipes, dogs barking, and an overwhelming sense of stillness. According to Fort, mowing is a man's job and the lawn is symbolic of man's potency and authority, and a place where he can instill order and control. In this male domain the more extreme aficionados of the green stuff see the lawn as something to be conquered; a battle to be won - the enemy being worms, daisies and dandelions - the goal being a lawn the perfect shade of green and the texture of velvet. Amazingly, Fort's stroll through the history of the lawnmower, encompassing the virtues of differing makes and their inner workings, is a breeze. This delightful book reads like a walk in the park, leaving the reader with the distant hum of a lawnmower and the smell of freshly cut grass. You will never look at a lawn the same way again - and not a water feature in sight!