ORCHID MUSE A History of Obsession in Fifteen Flowers

Nicol Zanzarella's narration lends elegance and gravitas to the exquisite orchid plant, which has an impressive international history and continues to evoke the passions of an ever-growing fan club. Much more than a detailed explanation of orchid care, this audiobook is a comprehensive dive into the orchid's influence on culturally significant people--rulers, like China's 1860s Empress Dowager Cixi; artists, like Frida Kahlo; and scientists, like Charles Darwin. Zanzarella expresses awe and solemnity as she uncovers the dark side of the procurement and propagation of this precious commodity, which includes slavery and the destruction of rainforests. Whether or not one is an orchidist, this is a fascinating listen as orchid history sheds light on humankind's social evolution. M.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]