City life in the early 19th century was never short of drama: poverty
and pollution preyed on all but the lucky few, and "resurrection men"
prowled the streets to procure corpses for anatomists to experiment on.
Life is improving, however, for young William Lang, who begins courting
Jenny, a fine needlewoman, and forms an unlikely friendship with
botanist Dr. Thomas Brown while working in the physic garden for a
leading professor of surgery. At first, William relishes the opportunity
to extend his knowledge of plants and their healing properties while
foraging in the countryside in the service of his new friend. The young
couple's relationship blossoms, until seeds of trouble threaten to grow
out of control.