Plant hunters: the 19th century orchid mania

Sarah Bilston, a Professor of English Literature and author of ‘The Lost Orchid’, dives into the wild world of 19th-century orchid mania. She discusses the rise of nurseries fueled by glass innovations and the thrill of plant hunting. Bilston shares the inspiring yet tumultuous friendship between naturalists William Hooker and William Swainson, highlighting their adventures in Brazil. The conversation also addresses the ethical dilemmas of orchid hunting, where beauty and exploitation collide, revealing the environmental and social consequences of this floral obsession.