Oranges

Oranges

by John McPhee

Narrated by Grover Gardner

Unabridged — 4 hours, 15 minutes

Oranges

Oranges

by John McPhee

Narrated by Grover Gardner

Unabridged — 4 hours, 15 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

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Overview

A classic of reportage, Oranges was first conceived as a magazine article, but John McPhee kept encountering so much irresistible information that he wrote a book. It is perhaps the last word on the subject (the first came in 500 BC and is attributed to Confucius). McPhee writes about the botany, history, and industry of oranges, from the great orangeries of European monarchs to a fascinating profile of Ben Hill Griffin of Frostproof, Florida, who may be the last of the individual orange barons.



Oranges developed in Southeast Asia, and they spread through the world with a timing closely parallel to the spread of Western civilization. It was Columbus himself who brought the first orange seeds to the New World. Botanically, they are spectacularly complicated. They can be completely unripe when they are a brilliant orange and deliciously ripe when they are green as emeralds. Citrus is so genetically perverse that oranges can grow from lime seeds. Most Florida oranges grow on lemon roots. Louis XIV hung tapestries of oranges in the halls of Versailles because oranges and orange trees were the symbols of his nature and his reign. This book, in a sense, is a tapestry of oranges, too-with elements in it that range from the customs of French kings to those of people in the modern Caribbean who split oranges and clean floors with them, one half in each hand.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Fascinating. A sterling example of what a fresh point of view, a clear style, a sense of humor and diligent investigation can do to reveal the inherent interest in something as taken-for-granted as your morning orange juice.” —Edmund Fuller, The Wall Street Journal

“It is a delicious book, in a word, and more absorbing than many a novel.” —Roderick Cook, Harper's

Harper’s

It is a delicious book, in a word, and more absorbing than many a novel.”

Wall Street Journal

Fascinating. A sterling example of what a fresh point of view, a clear style, a sense of humor and diligent investigation can do to reveal the inherent interest in something as taken-for-granted as your morning orange juice.”

AudioFile

The audiobook brings together the supreme storyteller and the exceptional story performer. Gardner’s singular voice and intelligent style were made to deliver McPhee…From grove to glass, McPhee has done the work. And this pleasurable listen is delivered by a master. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”

DECEMBER 2023 - AudioFile

AudioFile Golden Voice narrator Grover Gardner comfortably inhabits McPhee's curious mind and captures the eloquence of his prose in this splendid rendition of his short classic. The audiobook brings together the supreme storyteller and the exceptional story performer. Gardner's singular voice and intelligent style were made to deliver McPhee--his voicing of the author's TABULA RASA was awarded one of this magazine's Best of 2023. And this narration demonstrates how the author and narrator merge. McPhee's exploration of oranges ranges widely and digs deeply--from rootstock (lemon) to which side of the tree produces best (south). The author introduces the listener to the magnates and researchers, the growers and pickers. From grove to glass, McPhee has done the work. And this pleasurable listen is delivered by a master. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID: 2940159882745
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication date: 09/12/2023
Edition description: Unabridged
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