Book Description

How often have you strolled through the villages of Sense and Sensibility, climbed the windswept moors of Wuthering Heights, or raced down dangerous alleys in Oliver Twist's London? These classics are memorable because their authors used their own homes and surroundings to create them. A Dream House takes you on a journey to the homes of sixteen English writers. Each chapter includes a brief biography of the author (or authors) that lived in that home, how the home or countryside was used in various books, what you'll find when you tour the house, and travel directions. Follow Carol Chernega as she admires the table where Jane Austen polished her masterpieces, explores the boathouse that was the inspiration for Agatha Christie's Dead Man's Folly, and meets Tricki Woo and Mrs. Pomfrey in James Herriot's surgery. Whether you're an armchair traveler or planning a trip, Carol's humorous adventures and thoughtful insights will entice you into entering the world of literary England. Carol Chernega worked in Jane Austen's garden in Chawton, England as part of her grant as the first recipient of the International Visitor Program for the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). She also worked for the Chawton House Library and the Jane Austen Society of the United Kingdom. Carol has visited England over twenty times since 1997, including two stints as a tour leader for trips to the Chelsea Flower Show. This gives her plenty of material for her lectures on Jane Austen, gardening, and England, including lecturing at JASNA's national conference. As the English garden editor of BellaOnline, she writes a column on creating an English garden, and has written a booklet on the subject. Carol owns One Garden at a Time, a garden maintenance business near Pittsburgh, PA. She specializes in English gardens and pruning. She's produced a DVD called Pruning Shrubs with Your Personal Gardener, which is available on her web site www.onegardenatatime.biz