Synopsis
1829. Sainte-Suzanne, Bourbon Island. A Black orphan, a slave of only 7 weeks, is placed – as if by fate – into the arms of Ferréol Beaumont, a botanist with a passion for orchids.
He raises this child, Edmond, teaching him all he knows of the lush plants that populate his tropical garden. At 12 years old, the illiterate young prodigy unlocks the secret to hand-pollinating the vanilla orchid, revolutionizing not only the island’s economy but French patisserie, perfumes & more. While his discovery brings prosperity to others, the exhilarating aroma of the vanilla flower soon dissipates for Edmond as a bitter reality stretches out before him – his brilliance unrecognized, his name forgotten.
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About the Authors
Award-winning author Gaelle Belem has published two novels and a short story collection, all with Gallimard, in 2020, 2023 and 2025 respectively. She also teaches Latin, history and geography to secondary school students and works as an associate judge in a juvenile court.
Translator since 2007, Karen Fleetwood’s previous literary work includes English translations of Jules Verne’s Le Rayon vert (2009) & Les Forceurs de blocus (2011), both from Luath Press.
Freelance literary translator since 2012, Laëtitia Saint-Loubert currently teaches Translation Studies at Nantes University. Her first monograph, The Caribbean in Translation (Peter Lang), was published in 2020.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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Paperback. Condition: New. 1829. Sainte-Suzanne, Bourbon Island. A Black orphan, a slave of only seven weeks, is placed - as if by fate - into the arms of Ferréol Beaumont, a botanist with a passion for orchids. He raises this child, Edmond, teaching him all he knows of the lush plants that populate his tropical garden. At twelve years old, the illiterate young prodigy unlocks the secret to hand-pollinating the vanilla orchid, revolutionizing not only the island's economy but French patisserie, perfumes and more. While his discovery brings prosperity to others, the exhilarating aroma of the vanilla flower soon dissipates for Edmond as a bitter reality stretches out before him - his brilliance unrecognized, his name forgotten.A caustic look at the nineteenth-century history of Reunion Island under French colonial rule. For lovers of history, botany and vanilla ice cream. Seller Inventory # LU-9781739842383
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Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. 1829. Sainte-Suzanne, Bourbon Island. A Black orphan, a slave of only seven weeks, is placed as if by fate into the arms of Ferreol Beaumont, a botanist with a passion for orchids. He raises this child, Edmond, teaching him all he knows of the lush plants that populate his tropical garden. At twelve years old, the illiterate young prodigy unlocks the secret to hand-pollinating the vanilla orchid, revolutionizing not only the islands economy but French patisserie, perfumes & more. While his discovery brings prosperity to others, the exhilarating aroma of the vanilla flower soon dissipates for Edmond as a bitter reality stretches out before him his brilliance unrecognized, his name forgotten.A caustic look at the nineteenth-century history of Reunion Island under French colonial rule. For lovers of history, botany and vanilla ice cream. 1829. Sainte-Suzanne, Bourbon Island. A Black orphan, a slave of only seven weeks, is placed - as if by fate - into the arms of a botanist with a passion for orchids. At the age of twelve the illiterate prodigy unlocks the secret to hand-pollinating the vanilla orchid. While his discovery brings prosperity to many, a bitter future awaits Edmond. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781739842383
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