Wilson's China: A Century On

Edwardian botanist Ernest Wilson was the foremost plant collector of his generation, singlehandedly responsible for introducing more than one thousand plant species to Western gardens, many of them collected during his extensive travels in China. Wilson’s China draws on Wilson’s writings and the authors’ own travels in the wild areas of China today to deliver a fascinating account of the pioneering botanist’s travels and adventures. Armed with copies of Wilson’s own glass-plate photos of turn-of-the-century Sichuan Province, Mark Flanagan and Tony Kirkham set out to retrace Wilson’s footsteps—and with the help of Chinese guides and local knowledge, they have created new versions of Wilson’s photos. The resulting then-and-now presentation offers fascinating insight into the widespread change—and remarkable continuity—in China over a century, and serves as an informative, appreciative homage to one of history’s greatest plant hunters.