T.L. Mogford can trace his roots back to a line of famous horticulturalists - his great-grandfather has an apple tree named after him. Before becoming an author he worked as a journalist for Time Out and as a translator for the European Parliament. The Plant Hunter is his first historical novel.
''It's a great Stevensonian adventure but with a 21st century spin. Harry and Clarissa work really well - wholly believable and sexily engaging. The detail and the textures throughout are exemplary: lightly worn but dripping with atmosphere and exotic life. Really brilliantly achieved'' - William Boyd ''The Plant Hunter is a feast for the senses and a must for every reader who enjoys great adventure writing. The exuberant life in these pages and the drama of the story along with Mogford's lively engaging writing make this a life-enhancing pleasure to read. Be swept away'' - Imogen Robertson ''An old-fashioned adventure yarn with all the virtues of the genre, The Plant Hunter engages, informs and entertains, while taking the reader to distant, unexpected places. Highly recommended'' - Mick Herron ''It's excellent. No other word for it. I found the period and technical detail absolutely fascinating, and the characterisation really convincing. A beautiful, charming book that stays in the mind long after you've closed it and put it away. I was delighted by it'' - John Simpson ''Carried along by the drama, the history, the travel, the romance, the love of a dog, let alone the plant-hunting. I couldn't put this down'' - Sarah Raven ''It is a belter!'' - Jessie Childs, author of God's Traitors: Terror and Faith in Elizabethan England ''A terrific swash-and-buckle adventure. The detail is eye-opening, the story gripping and unusual. Bravo!'' - Elizabeth Buchan 'Cleanly written ... and exquisite'' - Times Literary Supplement ''A good adventure story, a ripping yarn of a tale'' - Country Life '' - '' -