The Naturalist by Thom Conroy

The Naturalist by Thom Conroy.

Thom's book is about the real life of Dr. Ernst Dieffenbach, who died on this day in 1855.

Dieffenbach was a scientist, explorer, loner, revolutionary, and outcast.

Gardeners will recognize Dieffenbach because of the dumb cane or Dieffenbachia.

Still, the plant genus is named after a different Dieffenbach - Joseph Dieffenbach (1796–1863), the head gardener of the Botanical Gardens in Vienna.

Dieffenbach was part of the New Zealand Company’s 1839 colonial expedition.

Once in New Zealand, Dieffenbach predicted how colonization would impact the country.

The cover of this book is one of my favorites. It looks marvelous on a table beside the couch or a bedside table; plus, the story of Dieffenbach will stay with you; it's both beautiful and sad.

You can get a copy of The Naturalist by Thom Conroy. and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $34.