In 1994, laroche and three seminole indians were arrested with rare orchids they had stolen from a wild swamp in south florida. Orlean s main focus was to write a profile of john laroche in the new yorker magazine. She is best known as the author of the 1998 book the orchid thief, which was adapted into the film adaptation. Susan orlean s nonfiction book the orchid thief 1998 begins in 1994 with orlean s fascination with orchid growingand a theft.
Nov 02, 2014 well, the movie adaptation was only very, very, very loosely based upon susan orlean s article orchid fever and her later book the orchid thief which are themselves real life depictions of the events surrounding the actual life of john laroche. Why our passions change, and why thats ok psychology today. Staff photo stephanie mitchellharvard news office if ever a bookbased film inspired questions of the original author, it is adaptation, the sideways interpretation of susan orlean s 1998 nonfiction book the orchid thief. Susan orlean born october 31, 1955 is a journalist and bestselling author of the orchid thief and the library book.
The orchid thief author susan orlean discusses adaptation duration. I was starting to believe that the reason it matters to care passionately about something is that it whittles the world down to a more manageable size. Susan orlean first met john laroche when visiting florida to write for the new yorker about his arrest for stealing rare ghost orchids from a nature reserve. In her books, one finds a collection of knowledge to rival the new york public. John sayles, chris cooper and joe morton interview. Hed had steady romances with turtles, fossils, and tropical. With nicolas cage, meryl streep, chris cooper, tilda swinton.
The pair remained together for sixteen years without bringing a child into their world. This is based on susan orelan s journalistic research in the early 1990s of the orchid obsessive john laroche, the seminole tribe he collaborated with, and of orchid collectors and breeders generally. The orchid thief in susan orleans mesmerizing true story of beauty and obsession is john laroche, a renegade plant dealer. Adaptation movie true story the real susan orlean, charlie kaufman, and the orchid thief john laroche at ctf. Sticking with the theme of the zany memoir, adaptation is screenwriter charlie kaufmans manic account of his effort to make a film adaptation of susan orleans the orchid thief. Orleans main focus was to write a profile of john laroche in the new yorker magazine. The steve hollinger experience can be described most simply as multimedia. Susan orleans nonfiction book the orchid thief 1998 begins in 1994 with orleans fascination with orchid growingand a theft. Jan 04, 2000 in susan orlean s mesmerizing true story of beauty and obsession is john laroche, a renegade plant dealer and sharply handsome guy, in spite of the fact that he is missing his front teeth and has the posture of al dente spaghetti. Such rapturous evocations are reason enough to read orleans book. Although kaufman found the principal character of the book, john laroche, to have cinematic potential, he was at a loss how a few years ago, a screenwriter named charlie kaufman was given the job of adapting susan orleans nonfiction book, the orchid thief, into a motion picture script. The subsequent trial brought him to the attention of susan orlean who wrote an article for the new yorker and the book.
Fascinated both by laroche and the world she uncovered of orchid collectors and growers, she stayed on, to write this magical exploration of o. John laroche is a tall guy, skinny as a stick, paleeyed, slouchshouldered, and sharply handsome, in spite of the fact that he is missing all his front teeth. Susan orlean began contributing to the new yorker in 1987 and became a staff writer in 1992. The main plot concerns somewhat inept attempts to steal and clone rare ghost orchids to sell on. Nov 11, 2008 texas book festival presents author susan orlean the orchid thief speaking on the making of adaptation loosely based on her novel before a screening on nov. Inspired by a newspaper account of three seminole indians and a white man john laroche, the thief of the title facing trial for stealing some prize specimens out of a protected swamp area, orlean introduces us to a cast of reallife plant smugglers, obsessed collectors, dealers who encourage breeding with their stud flowers, and even a. In the film, orlean s true story of the orchid thief, john laroche chris cooper, has to compete with the screenwriters selfobsessed fever dream sparked by his. The book is based on an article that orlean wrote for the new yorker, published in the magazines january 23, 1995, issue. Determined to clone an endangered flowerthe rare ghost orchid polyrrhiza lindeniia deeply eccentric and oddly attractive man named john laroche leads orlean on an unforgettable tour of americas strange flowerselling subculture, through floridas swamps and beyond, along with the seminoles who help him and the.
Susan orlean began contributing to the new yorker in 1987 and became a staff. Susan orlean on archiving her life, nearly quitting books. The orchid thief in susan orleans mesmerizing true story of beauty and obsession is john laroche, a renegade plant dealer and sharply handsome guy, in spite of the fact that he is missing his front teeth and has the posture of al dente spaghetti. Although kaufman found the principal character of the book, john laroche, to have cinematic potential, he was at a loss how a few years ago, a screenwriter named charlie kaufman was given the job of adapting susan orlean s nonfiction book, the orchid thief, into a motion picture script. For recent articles, visit my new yorker contributor profile. She pursues her discrete subjectsa devastating library fire, a seemingly immortal dog, girl scouts and 10yearold american boys and all my children to their surprising limits. For me, the marathon was a rare, rare moment when the city seemed truly whole. The orchid thief is based on orlean s investigation of the 1994 arrest of john laroche and a group of seminoles in south florida for poaching rare orchids in the fakahatchee strand state preserve. He has the posture of al dente spaghetti and the nervous intensity of someone who plays a lot of video games. Staff photo stephanie mitchellharvard news office if ever a bookbased film inspired questions of the original author, it is adaptation, the sideways interpretation of susan orleans 1998 nonfiction book the orchid thief. Orlean reads a clip from a newspaper about an orchid theft by john laroche and three members of the seminole first nations. Determined to clone an endangered flowerthe rare ghost orchid polyrrhiza lindeniia deeply eccentric and oddly attractive man named john laroche leads orlean on an unforgettable tour. The subsequent trial brought him to the attention of susan orlean who wrote an article. In 1994, laroche and three seminole indians were arrested with rare orchids they had stolen from a.
Jonze directed and kaufman wrote being john malkovich, which was the best film. Laroche is an offbeat character who spent a great deal of time and money amassing a. New york times bestseller a new york times notable book in susan orleans mesmerizing true story of beauty and obsession is john laroche, a renegade plant dealer and sharply handsome guy, in spite of the fact that he is missing his front teeth and has the posture of al dente spaghetti. Contact jessica love in the english department for more information. In 1994, laroche and three seminole indians were arrested with rare orchids they had stolen from a wild swamp in south. On the trail of susan orlean on the trail of the ghost orchid. Dec 06, 2002 meanwhile, susan orlean played with impish composure by meryl streep falls in with laroche chris cooper, a haunted, antic autodidact who has been arrested for poaching rare orchids from a. By the end, were yearning to feel the same kind of passion for something, an effect the film couldnt reproduce. Author susan orlean and muse john laroche at the premiere of the film version of the orchid thief, adaptation, in 2002. Susan orlean s the orchid thief is an intriguing look at people who are obsessed with collecting orchids. A writer for the new yorker, named susan orlean, wrote a book about him named, of course the orchid thief, and then spike jonze and charlie kaufman were brought in to make a movie about it. Unable to turn orlean s personal, lyrical prose into conventional screen narrative, kaufman instead wrote a script about this very dilemma. Plant dealer laroche was determined to find and clone the rare.
John laroche is a tall guy, skinny as a stick, paleeyed. In 1994, i headed down to florida to investigate the story of john laroche, an eccentric plant dealer who had been arrested along with a crew of seminoles for. The landscapes of john laroche and the state of florida elicit some of susan orleans best writingher ear for selfskewing dialogue, her eye for the incongruous, convincing detail, and her didionlike deftness in descriptionsuch rapturous evocations are reason enough to read orleans book. She writes about a florida orchid fancier named john laroche chris cooper, who is the latest in a long history of men so obsessed by orchids that they would steal and kill for them. The orchid thief is john laroche, a renegade plant dealer and sharply handsome guy in spite of the. Laroche, a horticultural consultant who once ran an extensive nursery for the seminole tribe, dreams of making a fortune for the seminoles and himself. In the film, orleans true story of the orchid thief, john laroche chris cooper, has to compete with the screenwriters selfobsessed fever dream sparked by his. In susan orlean s mesmerizing true story of beauty and obsession is john laroche, a renegade plant dealer and sharply handsome guy, in spite of the fact that he is missing his front teeth and has the posture of al dente spaghetti. Meryl streep received an academy award nomination for her performance as orlean. Susan orlean has been a staff writer at the new yorker since 1992. Susan orlean is a journalist and bestselling author of the orchid thief and the library book. In 1994, laroche and three seminole indians were arrested with rare.
After accepting the assignment to adapt orlean s story about a charismatic and unlikely orchid thief named john laroche, kaufman found himself in the grip of a crippling writers block. The film stars nicolas cage as kaufman and his fictional twin brother donald, meryl streep as susan orlean, and chris cooper as john laroche, with cara seymour, brian cox, tilda swinton, ron livingston, and maggie gyllenhaal in supporting roles. Orlean saturday night, 1990 piles anecdote upon detail upon anecdoteand keeps on piling them. The orchid thief is susan orleans tale of an amazing obsession. Orlean portrayed by meryl streep in an oscarnominated role was, in effect, made into a fictional character. She pursues her discrete subjectsa devastating library fire, a seemingly immortal dog, girl scouts and 10yearold american boys and all my childrento their surprising limits. Jun 04, 2019 susan orlean and husband john gillespie image source in 1983, a year after moving to boston, susan orlean exchanged marital vows with lawyer peter sistrom. The world is so huge that people are always getting lost in it. He prowls the everglades, searching for rare orchids that the government says he cant have. Orleans nonfiction story about john laroche played by chris.
Then, you know, they get somebody to write the screenplay. John edward laroche born february 19, 1962 in florida is an american horticulturist who was arrested for poaching wild ghost orchids while working for the seminole natives in the fakahatchee strand state preserve in florida. Susan orlean books, biography and facts about the american. Laroche enlisted the help of three seminole tribesmen to steal ghost orchids from the fakahatchee. In susan orleans mesmerizing true story of beauty and obsession is john laroche, a renegade plant dealer and sharply handsome guy, in spite of the fact that he is missing his front teeth and has the posture of al dente spaghetti. Orlean is the author of several books, including the orchid thief, a profile of florida orchid grower, breeder, and collector john laroche. There are too many ideas and things and people too many directions to go. Originally, she only planned to write a short article about laroche for the new yorker. Susan talks about going to awards shows for the movie adaptation and seeing celebrities. Meanwhile, susan orlean played with impish composure by meryl streep falls in with laroche chris cooper, a haunted, antic autodidact who.
A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt the orchid thief by susan orlean for the screen. The orchid thief in susan orlean s mesmerizing true story of beauty and obsession is john laroche, a renegade plant dealer. John laroche, the central character in susan orleans the orchid thief random house. Originally, she only planned to write a short article about laroche for. Although kaufman found the principal character of the. Susan orlean susan orlean was inspired to write the orchid thief when she found a newspaper article about john laroche. She speaks of orchids and the orchid thief, john laroche. Profile of and interview with susan orlean, writer for the new yorker. The orchid thief centers on south florida and john laroche, a quixotic, charismatic schemer once convicted of attempting to take endangered orchids from the fakahatchee swamp, a state preserve. She has been a staff writer for the new yorker since 1992, and has contributed articles to many magazines including vogue, rolling stone, esquire, and outside. Tickets are free and can be obtained in the english department office on the first floor of carnegie hall. I never thought very many people in the world were very much like john laroche, but i realized more and more that he was only an extreme, not an aberration that most people in some way or another do strive for something exceptional, something to pursue. One day, journalist susan orlean reads an article about the arrest of john laroche, a white man accused of stealing plants from the fakahatchee strand state preserve.
Susan orlean writes about the growing popularity of the treadmill desk, and why walking while you work has gained a leg up on sitting or standing. Texas book festival presents author susan orlean the orchid thief speaking on the making of adaptation loosely based on her novel before a screening on nov. Sticking with the theme of the zany memoir, adaptation is screenwriter charlie kaufmans manic account of his effort to make a film adaptation of susan orlean s the orchid thief. Adaptation movie true story the real susan orlean and. The book formed the basis of charlie kaufmans script for the spike jonze film adaptation. The orchid thief by susan orlean reading guidebook club. Susan orlean audio books, best sellers, author bio. In the film adaptation susan orleans life story is portrayed fairly. Laroche is an offbeat character who spent a great deal of time and money amassing a huge orchid collection. Susan orleans the orchid thief is an intriguing look at people who are obsessed with collecting orchids. The orchid thief, a profile of orchid grower and breeder john laroche and the basis of the film adaptation. It begins with a book titled the orchid thief, based on a new yorker article by susan orlean meryl streep. Wrote bestseller the orchid thief, the book being adapted. A modern classic of personal journalism, the orchid thief is susan orleans wickedly funny, elegant.
But neither is the piece really a profile of john laroche, the offkilter orchid thief at the heart of the tale. Adaptation movie true story the real susan orlean and john. The actual john laroche left horticulture and settled into a private life, eventually becoming a husband and father. On january 21, 2003, susan orlean sat down with chicago area radio talk show host john williams to discuss her, at the time, new book, the orchid thief. Susan orleans book takes us into this passionate world via an obsessive collector named john laroche.
Shes on an assignment to cover the trial of john laroche, whos been arrested for poaching orchids from floridas fakahatchee strand state preserve. The orchid thief is based on orleans investigation of the 1994 arrest of john laroche and a group of seminoles in south florida for poaching rare orchids in the fakahatchee strand state preserve. Susan orlean was inspired to write the orchid thief when she found a newspaper article about john laroche. Expanded from a new yorker article, this longwinded if wellinformed tale has less to do with john laroche, the thief, than it does with our authors desire to craft a comprehensive natural and social history of what the victorians called orchidelirium.
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