The Rarest Fruit

by Gaëlle Bélem, Hildegarde Serle (Translator)

Overview

Gaëlle Bélem’s The Rarest Fruit is a captivating tale of resilience, discovery, and the untold stories behind a beloved flavor.

Set in 19th-century La Réunion, this novel follows Edmond Albius, a young Creole boy born into slavery, whose extraordinary talent for botany leads him to revolutionize the vanilla industry with his method of hand-pollinating orchids. Raised by a passionate botanist after becoming an orphan, Edmond defies the expectations of his time, making a discovery that connects the histories of La Réunion, France, and beyond.

Based on the true story of Edmond Albius, Bélem weaves a richly detailed narrative, exploring themes of survival and ingenuity against the backdrop of colonial exploitation. The Rarest Fruit is both a poignant tribute to the unsung heroes of history and a vivid portrayal of the intertwined destinies shaped by a single discovery.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798889661009
Publisher:	Europa Editions, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/13/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Gaëlle Bélem was born in Saint-Benoît, Réunion. Her English-language debut, There’s a Monster Behind the Door, was long-listed for the 2025 International Booker Prize. The Rarest Fruit is her American debut.

For Europa Editions, Hildegarde Serle has translated the best-selling Mirror Visitor series by Christelle Dabos and Valérie Perrin’s Fresh Water for Flowers. She lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

★ “French author Belem’s remarkable U.S. debut chronicles the life of trailblazing Creole horticulturalist Edmond Albius... Belem’s piercing bildungsroman memorializes Edmond while filling in the gaps with a masterful balance of humor, tragedy, and emotional insight. It’s an impressive feat.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“With elegant prose, agile rhythm, and mischievous wit, Gaëlle Bélem masterfully intertwines rigorous historical research with fiction, resurrecting Edmond Albius from oblivion. In this novel of impossible possibilities, she grants him the love history denied.”—Gladys Marivat, Le Monde

“Gaëlle Bélem’s novel shows an unrivalled sense of words to describe the intertwining of these three stories: that of Edmond Albius, that of Reunion Island, and, finally, that of vanilla, which became a globalized object thanks to this anonymous inventor to whom the writer wanted to pay a heart-felt tribute... Precise historical and botanical details take the reader to the heart of this perfume’s secrets.”—Christophe Premat, World Literature Today

“A fictionalized biography infused with the bittersweet essence of vanilla during the time of slavery... As moving as it is unimaginable, rich with the aromas of garden herbs and kitchen spices, The Rarest Fruit brings to life the incredible story of Edmond Albius.”—AllAfrica.com

“This novel brings Edmond Albius out of oblivion—an orphaned, illiterate slave from Bourbon Island who, in 1841 at the age of twelve, discovered the secret of vanilla pollination. Thanks to this prodigious feat, he introduced the world to a new aroma, a new flavor that pastry lovers, ice cream aficionados, and connoisseurs of fine cuisine would soon be unable to do without... Based on meticulous historical research, this novel masterfully portrays the saga of vanilla, the sociocultural realities of Bourbon Island in the 19th century, its lush natural environment, and its colonial history leading up to the abolition of slavery. Bélem delights in listing the myriad species of the island’s abundant flora, their names imbued with poetic resonance. She plays with different linguistic registers—dancing between irony, sarcasm, fantasy, and poetry.”—Marie-Agnès Sourieau, The French Review

From the Publisher