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Reposted by Sarah Bilston

TheNACBS @thenacbs.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

We are thrilled to announce the shortlist for the 2026 Stansky Book Prize for best book in British Studies dealing with the period since 1800. Read more here: www.nacbs.org/news/stansky... @uchicagopress.bsky.social @princetonupress.bsky.social @harvardpress.bsky.social

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Reposted by Sarah Bilston

The Linnean Society of London @linneansociety.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

A mystery orchid. A forgotten archive. Victorian obsession. Join us 18 Nov, 6pm-8pm as author @sbilston.bsky.social uncovers the strange tale of Cattleya labiata and its archival secrets. An atmospheric dive into plant hunting & archive sleuthing. Book here: buff.ly/S3ATweG

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Sarah Bilston @sbilston.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

I'm a bit thrilled about this! The image, which I discuss in The Lost Orchid, was made in the 1820s. It's the first (European) illustration of an orchid that would obsess generations - sort of a botanical pin-up bsky.app/profile/nybo...

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Reposted by Sarah Bilston

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 18/05/2025

Many historians "have come to see colonizers as oppressors and colonized peoples as oppressed," Sarah Bilston writes. But Victorian orchid hunters are not easy to place in this dichotomy:

bit.ly

How Orchid Hunters Complicate Colonial Narratives

They were sent to exploit foreign lands, but they were victims of exploitation themselves.

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Reposted by Sarah Bilston

Harvard University Press @harvardpress.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

In 1818, a curious root arrived in a small English village, tucked—seemingly by accident—in a packing case mailed from Brazil. "The story seemed odd to me: surely someone knew how it got into the packing case?" We sat down with Sarah Bilston, author of The Lost Orchid: tinyurl.com/38k4ky27

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Sarah Bilston @sbilston.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/su...

greatbritishlife.co.uk

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Sarah Bilston @sbilston.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

This is how orchid-hunting was represented in 19th cent British lit: brave hunter goes on expedition, pushes through undergrowth and at last, gasp, there it is. Letters show that isn't what happened at all - hunters found knowledgeable locals who showed them the way #lostorchid

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Sarah Bilston @sbilston.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

This may well cross (actually, march all over) the showing-off line... but if you are looking for a Mother's Day gift, The Lost Orchid has a Kirkus starred review - www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

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Sarah Bilston @sbilston.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Obviously I’m biased but I do think this would make a great gift for an orchid-lover - no ice cubes needed! #lostorchid

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Sarah Bilston @sbilston.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

This is the gorgeous cover of my new book, by the amazing designer Gabriele Wilson! And I just learned The Lost Orchid got a Kirkus starred review, so I’m going to sit here staring at it

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