Natal: the Garden Colony by Donal P and Patricia A, McCracken

This lovely book encapsulates within its pages the atmosphere, the history, the botany and the charm of Natal as it developed in Colonial style during the Victorian era. Names, so familiar to every Natalian, find their origin in the characters mentioned chapter by chapter. The unfolding of historical events surrounding the link between plant collectors in Natal and Kew Gardens in England, becomes a fascinating record of the facet of the record existing as regards Natal the garden colony.

The work is lavishly illustrated with an original map of the Colony of Natal, many line drawings and full colour reproductions of very fine paintings as well as colour illustrations from Curtis Botanical Magazine.