{"title":"Sara Hardy","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the captivating works of \u003cem\u003eSara Hardy\u003c\/em\u003e, an acclaimed author celebrated for her insightful and evocative portrayals of extraordinary figures. Her books invite readers into the nuanced lives of remarkable personalities through a blend of meticulous research and vivid storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of Hardy's renowned works, \u003cem\u003eThe Unusual Life of Edna Walling\u003c\/em\u003e, delves into the life of one of Australia's pioneering landscape designers. Through this compelling biography, Hardy reveals the complexity and innovation of Edna Walling's contributions to garden design and her indelible impact on the architectural landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSara Hardy artfully combines the rigour of biography with the warmth of memoir, offering readers an intimate glimpse into the lives of her subjects. Her works are an excellent choice for those who appreciate detailed and personal narratives. Explore Hardy's collection and immerse yourself in the rich and inspiring stories that bring history to life. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-unusual-life-of-edna-walling-by-sara-hardy-9781741142297","title":"The Unusual Life of Edna Walling","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdna Walling designed over 300 gardens between 1920 and 1960 when most women were homemakers. Today, her gardens are still considered to add value to real estate. Her achievements and the gardens themselves are well documented, yet despite the fact she was a fabulous self-publicist and a very unusual woman in her time, Edna's private life has remained a mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eActress and playwright Sara Hardy was compelled to find out what made Edna tick when she was cast as Miss Walling in a play in 1989. Keen to research her character, she discovered that the available material was all about the gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd so began a journey of discovery. Hardy has unearthed amazing primary sources: letters, photographs, stories told to her by Edna's niece, and has been wholeheartedly supported in her quest by the two main documenters of the gardens, Peter Watts and Trisha Dixon. Covering Edna's childhood in Devon and the family's migration to New Zealand and then Australia, Hardy tracks the aspiring designer through the horticultural course at Burnley and charts her transformation from 'the girl gardener' for the ladies of Toorak to designer of large-scale gardens for wealthy Victorians. She tackles the burning question of Edna's sexuality and reveals the other women who supported Edna in her extraordinary endeavours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA deeply personal portrait, \u003ci\u003eThe Unusual Life of Edna Walling\u003c\/i\u003e reveals not so much what Edna Walling did, but who she was as a woman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46846685085932,"sku":"9781741142297","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/25410443482807.jpg?v=1758917675"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/sara-hardy.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}