FreeGaëlle Bélem on The Rarest Fruit
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About this event
Location: French Library - Salon (53 Marlborough St, Boston, MA). Ends 11:00 AM. Join Gaëlle Bélem, an award-winning author from Réunion Island, in conversation with Barbara Bouquegneau, President of the French Library, about Bélem’s novel The Rarest Fruit. Born into slavery on Réunion Island and orphaned at an early age, Edmond Albius developed an extraordinary talent for botany. His discovery of how to pollinate vanilla orchids transformed the cultivation of one of the world’s most beloved flavors. Based on his true story, The Rarest Fruit brings a long-overlooked Black innovator to life in a tale of resilience, discovery, and 19th-century adventure. A 2025 New York Times Notable Book, it was hailed as “a gorgeous novel.” Bélem’s debut, There’s a Monster Behind the Door, was longlisted for the 2025 International Booker Prize. This session is sponsored by Villa Albertine Boston. Bookseller: Trident Booksellers & Cafe
Who
- Gaëlle BélemAuthor
The book
- The Rarest FruitGaëlle Bélem
Venue
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Listing sourced from Boston Book Festival (original page). Details can change — confirm with the venue.