The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession

ANEWYORKTIMESNOTABLEBOOKAmodernclassicofpersonaljournalism,TheOrchidThiefisSusanOrlean’swickedlyfunny,elegant,andcaptivatingtaleofanamazingobsession.FromFlorida’sswampstoitscourtrooms,theNewYorkerwriterfollowsonedeeplyeccentricandoddlyattractiveman’spossiblycriminalpursuitofanendangeredflower.Determinedtoclonetherareghostorchid,Polyrrhizalindenii,JohnLarocheleadsOrleanonanunforgettabletourofAmerica’sstrangeflower-sellingsubculture,alongwiththeSeminoleswhohelphimandtheforcesofjusticewhofighthim.Intheend,Orlean–andthereader–willhavemorerespectforunderdogdeterminationandapowerfulnewdefinitionofpassion.PraiseforTheOrchidThief:“Fascinating...talesoftheft,hatred,greed,jealousy,madness,andbackstabbing...anengrossingjourney.”–LosAngelesTimes“Irresistible...abrilliantlyreportedaccountofanillicitschemetohousebreakFlorida’swildandendangeredghostorchid...ItscentralfigureisJohnLaroche,the‘oddballultimate’ofasubculturewhosemembersaresoenthralledbyorchidsthey‘pursuethemlikelovers.’”–MinneapolisStarTribune“Artful...inMs.Orlean’sskillfulhandling,herorchidstoryturnsouttobedistinctly‘somethingmore.’...[Her]portraitofhersometimessad-makingorchidthiefallowsthereadertodiscoveracresofopportunitywhereintriguingthingscanbefound.”–TheNewYorkTimes“Zestful...aswashbucklingpieceofreportingthatcelebratessomevirtuesthatmadeAmericagreat.”–TheWallStreetJournal“Deliciouslyweird...compelling.”–DetroitFreePress,