The Rarest Fruit

Description

NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2025・BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR – Washington Independent Review of Books

“A gorgeous novel.”–New York Times

“A revealing, history-infused novel that spills its tale with the eager breathlessness, wry commentary, and frank truths of a close friend…Bélem…transforms little-known history into an exquisite ode.”–The Christian Science Monitor

Set in the 19th-century on Réunion Island, this new novel by International Booker Prize-longlisted author, Gaëlle Bélem, tells the true story of Edmond Albius, a young Creole boy whose extraordinary talent for botany leads him to revolutionize the highly competitive vanilla industry. Here is the incredible hidden story of a beloved flavor wrapped in a tale about resilience, science, exploration, defiance, and desert! Told with great verve and perfect pitch, The Rarest Fruit is both a poignant tribute to the unsung heroes of history and a vivid portrayal of the many destinies that may be shaped by a single discovery.

★ “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)

Binding Type: Paperback
Contributors: Gaëlle Bélem,Hildegarde Serle (Translator)
Published: 08/18/2026
Publisher: Europa Editions
ISBN: 9798889662181
Pages: 192
Weight: 0.44lbs
Size: 0.60″ H x 8.10″ L x 5.20″ W

About the Author
Bélem, Gaëlle: –

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.

Serle, Hildegarde: –

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.