Join the Environmental Humanities Initiative on Friday, March 17, from 1:30-3 pm in Pillsbury 412 for a talk by environmental historian Erica Hannickel (Northland College) on her new book, Orchid Muse: The History of an Obsession in Fifteen Flowers (W.W. Norton, 2022). One of Literary Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2022, Orchid Muse tells the global story of “orchidomania,” transporting readers from the glories of the palace gardens of Chinese Empress Cixi to a seedy dime museum in Gilded Age New York’s Tenderloin, from hazardous jungles to the greenhouses and bookshelves of Victorian collectors. Hannickel gathers these bold tales of the orchid-smitten throughout history, while providing tips on cultivating the extraordinary flowers she features. Join us for a lively discussion of Hannickel’s book, the place of orchids in the environmental humanities, and the writing of popular nonfiction. Co-sponsored by the Department of English.

Thanks to Prof. Hannickel and W.W. Norton, we are happy to provide free copies of Orchid Muse to the first five EHI-affiliated faculty members and graduate students to RSVP for the event. To reserve your copy, please contact us at envhum@umn.edu. Books will only be available at the event on March 17; any unclaimed copies will be distributed to other attendees.