The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
 

The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

by Susan Orlean

Orchidelirium is the name the Victorians gave to the flower madness that is for botanical collectors the equivalent of gold fever. Wealthy orchid fanatics of that era sent explorers (heavily armed, more to protect themselves against other orchid seekers than against hostile natives or wild animals) to unmapped territories in search of new varieties of Cattleya and Paphiopedilum. As knowledge of... (read more)

Top tags: nonfictionnon-fictionnaturejournalismflorida (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

Stephen W
  • Rated 4 stars

A thoroughly enjoyable read, this is an adaptation from a series of newspaper articles so the pace is lively and to the point, but what that point turns out to be is a deep and enticing examination of the collector in US society. What is it within us all that craves position and mastery of things and subjects, looked at from historical and contemporary storeys we follow the path of the collector through its strange and some times dangerous but always enticing wanderings.

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Didn’t Like It

Janae A
  • Rated 1 stars

Snoozefest! The main character was interesting enough, but unless your a freak about horticulture or legal loopholes this book is not for you. I couldnt even finish it.

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Community:
  • Rated 3.58046 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 0 stars
 

Newest Comments

  • Gigi d

    gigi d said:

    I already loved orchids before reading ths book....now I collect them

    posted Sunday, December 16 2007
  • Stephanie C

    stephanie c said:

    Great book. Fascinating history of orchid obsession and south florida. The movie, which uses the book as a launch pad, is also great.

    posted Thursday, December 13 2007
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