John McPhee takes us on a remarkable journey in search of oranges, beginning with the origins of the fruit in Southeast Asia, he unravels the rich history of the trade and cultivation of this botanical marvel, and its role in literature and art. He travels from the great orangeries of Louis XIV, to the endless groves of Florida, and introduces us to orange pickers, a citrus scientist, and an 'orange baron'.
In his inimitable and endlessly compelling prose, McPhee reveals a story of historical significance behind this extraordinary fruit. After reading Oranges, your morning glass of juice will never be the same.