Leading architectural and garden historians trace the early history of the villa in Britain for the first time. The alluring ideal of villa life originated in classical antiquity, was revived in Renaissance Italy, and then spread throughout Europe, producing new and exciting architectural forms. This book contains both thematic chapters and case studies with famous buildings such as the Queen's House, Greenwich (Inigo Jones), and Winslow Hall, Buckinghamshire (attributed to Wren) being analysed and reinterpreted. Contributors include Nicholas Cooper, Andor Gomme, Gordon Higgott and Charles McKean. Copiously illustrated, with plentiful plans, the book is a major contribution to the history of domestic architecture and garden design in Britain, and will be essential reading for anyone interested in early modern society and the history of the built environment.