Orchid Fever
A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust and Lunacy
Eric Hansen
The best-selling true story of one of the world's strangest plants and humanity's oddest obsessions: the orchid, brought to book by Eric Hansen, traveller and self-confessed orchid obsessive
"You can get off alcohol, drugs, women, food and cars, but once you're hooked on orchids you're finished. You never get off orchids ... never" - Joe Kunisch, orchid grower
When Eric Hansen entered the Borneo jungle in search of rare orchids, he didn't know what he was letting himself in for. Five years later, he was still on the trail of one of the world's strangest obsessions and some of humanity's oddest obsessives. Hilarious, bizarre and compelling, here is a tale of corruption, murder and plant politics; of smugglers, ice-cream makers and visionary breeders from the Orinoco River to the hothouses of Kew. "Entertaining, hilarious and hugely enjoyable... I laughed aloud" Val Hennessy, Daily Mail "A wonderful book. I was up all night reading it, laughing and crying out in horror' Annie Proulx "A cracking read and a testament to the twisted relationship between man and nature. It will make you look at the humble pot plant in a whole new light" Scotsman "It reads like a comic thriller ... You don't have to be a classicist or a horticulturalist to enjoy this book. Plant politics are more gripping than the American primaries" Literary Review Eric Hansen lives in San Francisco, but over the last twenty-five years he has travelled throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Nepal, and Southeast Asia. He is the author of Stranger in the Forest, Motoring with Mohammed, and Orchid Fever all available from Methuen. His articles, photographs, and reviews have appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic, Travel & Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and Outside magazine, among other publications worldwide.
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