The Rarest Fruit

French author Belem’s remarkable U.S. debut chronicles the life of trailblazing Creole horticulturalist Edmond Albius (1829–1880). Edmond was born into slavery in La Réunion. After his mother dies in childbirth, he’s raised by his enslaver, Ferreol, who teaches him the principles of botany, fueling the passion that will define his life. At age 12, he discovers a revolutionary technique for pollinating vanilla orchids, thus producing pods that could meet demand for the coveted spice. But the tension underlying the relationship between a white slave owner and an enslaved Creole boy is exacerbated by the discovery. Based on the little information available about Edmond, the tale follows him through adulthood and explores what may have been the inner life of a man whose invention transformed the economy and culinary history of the West, yet who found no recognition or financial gain for it in his lifetime. 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. (June)