The rarest fruit : a novel / Gaëlle Bélem, translation from the French by Hildegarde Serle.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bélem, Gaëlle, 1984- author.

Contributor:

Serle, Hildegarde, translator.

Standardized Title:

Le fruit le plus rare French

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Albius, Edmond, 1829-1880--Fiction.

Albius, Edmond, 1829-1880.

Réunion--History 1764-1946--Fiction.

Réunion.

Slavery--Réunion--Fiction.

Slavery.

Vanilla industry--Réunion--Fiction.

Vanilla industry.

Genre:

Historical fiction.

Novels.

Physical Description:

189 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY. : Europa Editions, 2025.

Summary:

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.

ISBN:

9798889660996

OCLC:

1457231226