The Gardener's Year is a charming and light-hearted insight into the life of an amateur gardener. Structured loosely around what to plant, grow or cultivate each month, Karel Čapek takes us on a rollicking journey through a year in his own small garden.

Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features lively black and white illustrations by Czech artist Josef Čapek and is translated by M. and R. Weatherall.

From making puddles with an untamable hose to sowing luxuriant weeds instead of grass, Čapek reveals how a gardener grows into his surroundings ‘spurred on by each new failure'. Subverting the tradition of a ‘how to' gardening book, he teaches his readers about the magic of seeds, the perils of planting vegetables and the thrilling surprises of a rock garden. As the year progresses and frail buds turn from flowering stems to drooping bulbs and falling leaves, Čapek's small garden buzzes with life, wisdom and humour.