The Seasons and the Gardener was first published in 1940 as one in a series of Cambridge children's books related to the natural world. H. E. Bates provides a beautifully written account of the British garden in its interaction with the seasons. This is combined with a large number of illustrations by the renowned naturalistic artist C. F. Tunnicliffe. In exploring the various aspects of gardening the book manages to retain a broadly educational approach, whilst conveying this information in a highly readable, personal style. This is a delightful document of its time, which explores the idea of the garden as a place of refuge in an increasingly mechanical world.