THE ORCHID THIEF - SUSAN ORLEAN

SOFTCOVER IN GOOD CONDITION . NEWSPAPER CLIPPING ON REVIEW OF THE BOOK PASTED ON INSIDE COVER AND NAME WHICH WAS INSCRIBED CANCELLED OUT ON FIRST INSIDE PAGE . PUBLISHED BY VINTAGE IN 2000, 350 PAGES  THE FAKAHATCHEE STRAND , FLORIDA, ONCE A VAST SWAMP AWASH WITH INDIGENOUS ORCHIDS WAS PLUNDERED DURING THE ORCHID BOOK OF THE 1890'S . ITS REMAINING PLANTS, NOW FIERCELY PROTECTED BY LAW, STILL ATTRACTS THE UNWELCOME ATTENTIONS OF THIEVES. JOHN LAROCHE IS ONE SUCH SELF-CONFESSED THIEF. INTRIGUED BY NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF THE TRIAL THE AUTHOR FOLLOWED LAROCHE ON AN ENTHRALLING  EXPLORATION INTO THE ECCENTRIC WORLD OF THE OBSESSIVE ORHID COLLECTORS; A SUBCULTURE OF ARISTOCRATS, ENTHIUSIASTS AND SMUGGLERS WHOSE PASSION FOR PLANTS IS ALL-CONSUMING .