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The Orchid Thief

by Susan Orlean
$8.90
The Orchid Thief
The Orchid Thief

Eccentric orchid heist reveals human obsession.

If plant poaching and quirky characters intrigue you, "The Orchid Thief" is right up your alley. Orlean doesn't just tell a story; she immerses you in the peculiar subculture surrounding these mystical blooms. Think of it as a botanical caper mixed with a deep dive into the human psyche—you'll find it both enlightening and entertaining.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Orchid Thief

by Susan Orlean
$8.90
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

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This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780099289586
Authors: Susan Orlean
Publisher: Trafalgar Square
Date of Publication: 2000-01-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Nature, History, Science, Biographies & Memoirs
Related Topics: Biography, Memoir, Nature, Ecology, Biology, Natural History, Environment
Goodreads rating: 3.66
(rated by 21667 readers)

Description

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK A modern classic of personal journalism, "The Orchid Thief" is Susan Orlean's wickedly funny, elegant, and captivating tale of an amazing obsession. From Florida's swamps to its courtrooms, the New Yorker writer follows one deeply eccentric and oddly attractive man's possibly criminal pursuit of an endangered flower. Determined to clone the rare ghost orchid, Polyrrhiza lindenii, John Laroche leads Orlean on an unforgettable tour of America's strange flower-selling subculture, along with the Seminole Indians who help him and the forces of justice who fight him. In the end, Orlean-and the reader-will have more respect for underdog determination and a powerful new definition of passion. Praise for The Orchid "Fascinating . . . tales of theft, hatred, greed, jealousy, madness, and backstabbing . . . an engrossing journey.""-Los Angeles Times" "Irresistible . . . a brilliantly reported account of an illicit scheme to housebreak Florida's wild and endangered ghost orchid . . . Its central figure is John Laroche, the 'oddball ultimate' of a subculture whose members are so enthralled by orchids they 'pursue them like lovers.' ""-Minneapolis Star Tribune" "Artful . . . in Ms. Orlean's skillful handling, her orchid story turns out to be distinctly 'something more.' . . . [Her] portrait of her sometimes sad-making orchid thief allows the reader to discover acres of opportunity where intriguing things can be found.""-The New York Times" "Zestful . . . a swashbuckling piece of reporting that celebrates some virtues that made America great.""-The Wall Street Journal" "Deliciously weird . . . compelling."-Detroit Free Press"
 

Eccentric orchid heist reveals human obsession.

If plant poaching and quirky characters intrigue you, "The Orchid Thief" is right up your alley. Orlean doesn't just tell a story; she immerses you in the peculiar subculture surrounding these mystical blooms. Think of it as a botanical caper mixed with a deep dive into the human psyche—you'll find it both enlightening and entertaining.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.