In 'Oranges,' John McPhee takes readers on a flavorful journey into the world of citrus, blending personal anecdotes with rich historical context. He meticulously explores the cultivation and significance of oranges in American society, revealing the complex interplay between agriculture and industry. Through vivid storytelling, McPhee introduces the passionate growers and innovative techniques that define orange farming. This exploration goes beyond just fruit; it delves into themes of nature, commerce, and the environment, inviting contemplation about our modern food systems. Prepare to see oranges in a whole new light, as McPhee's narrative intertwines fact and narrative in a truly zesty manner.
By John McPhee
Published: 1975
""The orange is a fruit that captures the essence of life itself—bright, complex, and rich with flavor, yet requiring just the right balance of care and understanding to truly appreciate.""
A classic of reportage, Oranges was first conceived as a short magazine article about oranges and orange juice, but the author kept encountering so much irresistible information that he eventually found that he had in fact written a book. It contains sketches of orange growers, orange botanists, orange pickers, orange packers, early settlers on Florida's Indian River, the first orange barons, modern concentrate makers, and a fascinating profile of Ben Hill Griffin of Frostproof, Florida who may be the last of the individual orange barons. McPhee's astonishing book has an almost narrative progression, is immensely readable, and is frequently amusing. 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 great orangeries of European monarchs to a custom of people in the modern Caribbean who split oranges and clean floors with them, one half in each hand.
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“"The orange is a fruit that captures the essence of life itself—bright, complex, and rich with flavor, yet requiring just the right balance of care and understanding to truly appreciate."”
Oranges
By John McPhee
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John McPhee is an acclaimed American author and journalist, known for his masterful narrative nonfiction and intricate storytelling. Born on March 8, 1931, he has penned numerous influential works, including 'Coming into the Country,' 'The Control of Nature,' and 'Annals of the Former World,' which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography in 1999. McPhee's writing often emphasizes detailed research, vivid prose, and a deep sense of place, reflecting his keen interest in human interaction with the natural world. His ability to merge personal narrative with larger themes has made him a significant figure in contemporary literature.
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