The story of how strawberries went from small forage item to one of the world’s most popular fruits – though they're technically not a true fruit – involves lots of crossbreeding experimentation, as you might expect, but also a bit of spy craft.

Research:
“A Transatlantic Tango: The Story of the Strawberry. Royal Horticultural Society. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/features/history-of-the-strawberry#:~:text=It%20is%20hard%20to%20believe,back%20on%20fortifications%20near%20Concepci%C3%B3n. 
Allen, Mike. “The 18th-Century Spy Who Gave Us Big Strawberries.” Atlas Obscura. Nov. 16, 2017. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/big-strawberries-spy-chile-france 
Barnes, Monica. “Frezier, Amédée François (1682-1773).” American Museum of Natural History. January 2008. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280567727_Frezier_Amedee_Francois_1682-1773
Darrow, George M. “The Strawberry: History, Breeding and Physiology.” New York. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 1966. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/strawberryhistor00darr/mode/1up
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "strawberry". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/plant/strawberry
Folta, K.M., Barbey, C.R. “The strawberry genome: a complicated past and promising future.” Hortic Res 6, 97 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-019-0181-z
Grubinger, Vern. “History of the Strawberry.” University of Vermont. June 2012. https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/strawberryhistory.html
Hancock, J.F. “Strawberries.” Oxford University Press. 2000.
Petruzzello, Melissa. "list of plants in the family Rosaceae". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Rosaceae-2001612
Sevilla, Elisa, and Ana Sevilla. “STRAWBERRY.” New World Objects of Knowledge: A Cabinet of Curiosities, edited by Mark Thurner and Juan Pimentel, University of London Press, 2021, pp. 207–12. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1vbd275.34
“Strawberry Facts.” University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit-crops/strawberries/strawberry-facts/
Sytsma, Kenneth J.. "Rosaceae". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Feb. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosaceae

The story of how strawberries went from small forage item to one of the world&rsquo;s most popular fruits &ndash; though they're technically not a true fruit &ndash; involves lots of crossbreeding experimentation, as you might expect, but also a bit of spy craft.
Research:
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;A Transatlantic Tango: The Story of the Strawberry. Royal Horticultural Society. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/features/history-of-the-strawberry#:~:text=It%20is%20hard%20to%20believe,back%20on%20fortifications%20near%20Concepci%C3%B3n.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Allen, Mike. &ldquo;The 18th-Century Spy Who Gave Us Big Strawberries.&rdquo; Atlas Obscura. Nov. 16, 2017. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/big-strawberries-spy-chile-france&nbsp;</li>
<li>Barnes, Monica. &ldquo;Frezier, Am&eacute;d&eacute;e Fran&ccedil;ois (1682-1773).&rdquo; American Museum of Natural History. January 2008. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280567727_Frezier_Amedee_Francois_1682-1773</li>
<li>Darrow, George M. &ldquo;The Strawberry: History, Breeding and Physiology.&rdquo; New York. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 1966. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/strawberryhistor00darr/mode/1up</li>
<li>The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "strawberry".&nbsp;Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/plant/strawberry</li>
<li>Folta, K.M., Barbey, C.R. &ldquo;The strawberry genome: a complicated past and promising future.&rdquo;&nbsp;Hortic Res&nbsp;6, 97 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-019-0181-z</li>
<li>Grubinger, Vern. &ldquo;History of the Strawberry.&rdquo; University of Vermont. June 2012.&nbsp;https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/strawberryhistory.html</li>
<li>Hancock, J.F. &ldquo;Strawberries.&rdquo; Oxford University Press. 2000.</li>
<li>Petruzzello, Melissa. "list of plants in the family Rosaceae".&nbsp;Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Mar. 2024,&nbsp;https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Rosaceae-2001612</li>
<li>Sevilla, Elisa, and Ana Sevilla. &ldquo;STRAWBERRY.&rdquo;&nbsp;New World Objects of Knowledge: A Cabinet of Curiosities, edited by Mark Thurner and Juan Pimentel, University of London Press, 2021, pp. 207&ndash;12.&nbsp;JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1vbd275.34</li>
<li>&ldquo;Strawberry Facts.&rdquo; University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit-crops/strawberries/strawberry-facts/</li>
<li>Sytsma, Kenneth J.. "Rosaceae".&nbsp;Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Feb. 2025,&nbsp;https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosaceae</li>
</ul>

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

The story of how strawberries went from small forage item to one of the world’s most popular fruits – though they're technically not a true fruit – involves lots of crossbreeding experimentation, as you might expect, but also a bit of spy craft.

Strawberries

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7a215493-1323-40bd-b80c-b2b100023283/transcript

Tracy talks about the mixed bag nature of Elizabeth Bisland, and the hosts talk about their own travel experiences. Holly shares the less-than-noble character trait that she shares with Flaubert.

Tracy talks about the mixed bag nature of Elizabeth Bisland, and the hosts talk about their own travel experiences. Holly shares the less-than-noble character trait that she shares with Flaubert.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Carry-on Bags

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5ae870d8-f44d-465d-b84d-b40a015399e9/transcript

When Madame Bovary was written in the 1850s, it fell under the accusing eye of the French government for its perceived immorality. Flaubert recognized that the trial would only stoke interest, and that it would set the tone for his career.

Research:
Barzun, Jacques. “Gustave Flaubert.” Encylopedia Brittanica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gustave-Flaubert
Blakemore, Erin. “What Madame Bovary Revealed About the Freedom of the Press.” JSTOR Daily. Dec. 16, 2016. https://daily.jstor.org/what-madame-bovary-revealed-about-the-freedom-of-the-press/
Brown, Frederick. “Flaubert: A Biography.” Harvard University Press. 2007.
CREASY, MATTHEW. “INVERTED VOLUMES AND FANTASTIC LIBRARIES: ‘ULYSSES’ AND ‘BOUVARD ET PÉCUCHET.’” European Joyce Studies, vol. 19, 2011, pp. 112–27. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44871308
Flaubert, Gustave, and Christopher Moncrieff, tr. “Madame Bovary: Newly Translated and Annotated.” Alma Classics. 2010.
Haynes, Christine. “The Politics of Publishing During The Second Empire: The Trial of Madame Bovary Revisited.” French Politics, Culture & Society. Oxford Journals. June 1, 2005. https://doi.org/10.3167/153763705780980083
LaCapra, Dominick. “Madame Bovary on Trial.” Cornell University Press. 1982.
“The Public vs. M. Gustave Flaubert.” Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10666/pg10666.txt
Steegmuller, Francis. “Flaubert and Madame Bovary: A Double Portrait.” New York Review of Books. 1966.
Steegmuller, Francis. “The Letters of Gustave Flaubert.” New York Review of Books. 1980.
Thurman, Judith. “A Unsimple Heart.” The New Yorker. April 29, 2002. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/05/06/an-unsimple-heart?_sp=0c026da2-f3c5-4709-9ac8-8214e0cc3278.1772403467294

 

 

When Madame Bovary was written in the 1850s, it fell under the accusing eye of the French government for its perceived immorality. Flaubert recognized that the trial would only stoke interest, and that it would set the tone for his career.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Barzun, Jacques. &ldquo;Gustave Flaubert.&rdquo; Encylopedia Brittanica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gustave-Flaubert</li>
<li>Blakemore, Erin. &ldquo;What Madame Bovary Revealed About the Freedom of the Press.&rdquo; JSTOR Daily. Dec. 16, 2016. https://daily.jstor.org/what-madame-bovary-revealed-about-the-freedom-of-the-press/</li>
<li>Brown, Frederick. &ldquo;Flaubert: A Biography.&rdquo; Harvard University Press. 2007.</li>
<li>CREASY, MATTHEW. &ldquo;INVERTED VOLUMES AND FANTASTIC LIBRARIES: &lsquo;ULYSSES&rsquo; AND &lsquo;BOUVARD ET P&Eacute;CUCHET.&rsquo;&rdquo;&nbsp;European Joyce Studies, vol. 19, 2011, pp. 112&ndash;27.&nbsp;JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44871308</li>
<li>Flaubert, Gustave, and Christopher Moncrieff, tr. &ldquo;Madame Bovary: Newly Translated and Annotated.&rdquo; Alma Classics. 2010.</li>
<li>Haynes, Christine. &ldquo;The Politics of Publishing During The Second Empire: The Trial of Madame Bovary Revisited.&rdquo; French Politics, Culture &amp; Society. Oxford Journals. June 1, 2005. https://doi.org/10.3167/153763705780980083</li>
<li>LaCapra, Dominick. &ldquo;Madame Bovary on Trial.&rdquo; Cornell University Press. 1982.</li>
<li>&ldquo;The Public vs. M. Gustave Flaubert.&rdquo; Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10666/pg10666.txt</li>
<li>Steegmuller, Francis. &ldquo;Flaubert and Madame Bovary: A Double Portrait.&rdquo; New York Review of Books. 1966.</li>
<li>Steegmuller, Francis. &ldquo;The Letters of Gustave Flaubert.&rdquo; New York Review of Books. 1980.</li>
<li>Thurman, Judith. &ldquo;A Unsimple Heart.&rdquo; The New Yorker. April 29, 2002. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/05/06/an-unsimple-heart?_sp=0c026da2-f3c5-4709-9ac8-8214e0cc3278.1772403467294</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

When Madame Bovary was written in the 1850s, it fell under the accusing eye of the French government for its perceived immorality. Flaubert recognized that the trial would only stoke interest, and that it would set the tone for his career.

Gustave Flaubert and the ‘Madame Bovary’ Trial

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/63ede398-b685-47c9-ba52-b4090162768a/transcript

Journalist and writer Elizabeth Bisland was sent on a trip around the world in 1889, in a sort of race against Nellie Bly. But that was not something she wanted to be known for.

Research:
Bisland, Elisabeth. “At the Sign of the Hobby Horse.” Houghton, Mifflin and Co. Riverside Press. 1910. https://archive.org/details/atsignofhobbyhor0000eliz/page/n12/mode/1up
Bisland, Elizabeth, 1861-1929. “A Candle of Understanding: a Novel.” New York and London: Harper & brothers, 1903.
Bisland, Elizabeth. “In Seven Stages: A Flying Trip Around the World.” New York. Harper & Brothers. 1891. https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/bisland/stages/stages.html
Bisland, Elizabeth. “Societies for Minding One's Own Business.” The North American Review. 11/1/1910.
Bisland, Elizabeth. “The Art of Travel.” From The woman's book, dealing practically with the modern conditions of home-life, self-support, education, opportunities, and every-day problems. 1894. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_LBEhBEGmUq4C/
Bisland, Elizabeth. “The Truth About Men and Other Matters.” New York. Avondale Press. 1927.
Britannica Editors. "Lafcadio Hearn". Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lafcadio-Hearn. Accessed 18 February 2026.
Codrescu, Andrei. “The Many Lives of Lafcadio Hearn.” The Paris Review. 7/2/2019. https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/07/02/the-many-lives-of-lafcadio-hearn/
“Foley, Alethea "Mattie",” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed February 19, 2026, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/300004770.
Goodman, Matthew. “Elizabeth Bisland’s Race Around the World.” Public Domain Review. 10/16/2013. https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/elizabeth-bislands-race-around-the-world/
Harrison-Kahan, Lori and Karen E. H. Skinazi. “The Girl Reporter in Fact and Fiction: Miriam Michelson's New Women and Periodical Culture in the Progressive Era.” American Quarterly , Jun., 2002, Vol. 54, No. 2 (Jun., 2002). https://www.jstor.org/stable/30041927
Heitman, Danny. “Lafcadio Hearn in New Orleans.” HUMANITIES, May/June 2012, Volume 33, Number 3. https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2012/mayjune/feature/lafcadio-hearn-in-new-orleans
New York Times. “MRS. E.B. WETMORE, AUTHOR, DIES IN SOUTH; Former Elizabeth Bisland of This City to Be Buried in Woodlawn Today.” 1/19/1929. https://www.nytimes.com/1929/01/09/archives/mrs-eb-wetmore-author-dies-in-south-former-elizabeth-bisland-of.html
Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc. “Historical and Archaeological Investigations of Fort Bisland and Lower Bayou Teche, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.” June 1991. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA242489.pdf
Roggenkamp, Karen. “Dignified Sensationalism: ‘Cosmopolitan,’ Elizabeth Bisland, and Trips around the World.” American Periodicals , 2007, Vol. 17, No. 1 (2007). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20770967
Rose, Alex. “Elizabeth Bisland: Around the World in 76 Days.” Science Museum Group. 1/30/2023. https://blog.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/rare-globe-celebrates-elizabeth-bislands-voyage-around-the-world/
Science Museum Group. “Elizabeth Bisland 1861-1929.” https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp172999/elizabeth-bisland
Tutwiler, Julia R. “The Southern Woman in New York.” The Bookman: A Magazine of Literature and Life. February, 1904. https://archive.org/details/the-bookman-1895-1933/1900-1909/1904/The%20Bookman%20v18n06%20%281904-02%29%20%28unz%29/page/624/mode/1up
Tutwiler, Julia R. “The Southern Woman in New York: Part 2.” The Bookman: A Magazine of Literature and Life. March, 1904. https://archive.org/details/bookmanareviewb05unkngoog/page/50/mode/1up
Vatican Apostolic Library. “Elizabeth Bisland.” En Route Project. https://enrouteproject.com/en/the-research/the-female-travelers/elizabeth-bisland/
Williams, Susan Millar. “L’enfant Terrible: Elizabeth Bisland and the South.” The Southern Review; Oct 1, 1986; 22, 4; ProQuest pg. 680.

Journalist and writer Elizabeth Bisland was sent on a trip around the world in 1889, in a sort of race against Nellie Bly. But that was not something she wanted to be known for.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Bisland, Elisabeth. &ldquo;At the Sign of the Hobby Horse.&rdquo; Houghton, Mifflin and Co. Riverside Press. 1910. https://archive.org/details/atsignofhobbyhor0000eliz/page/n12/mode/1up</li>
<li>Bisland, Elizabeth, 1861-1929. &ldquo;A Candle of Understanding: a Novel.&rdquo; New York and London: Harper &amp; brothers, 1903.</li>
<li>Bisland, Elizabeth. &ldquo;In Seven Stages: A Flying Trip Around the World.&rdquo; New York. Harper &amp; Brothers. 1891. https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/bisland/stages/stages.html</li>
<li>Bisland, Elizabeth. &ldquo;Societies for Minding One's Own Business.&rdquo; The North American Review. 11/1/1910.</li>
<li>Bisland, Elizabeth. &ldquo;The Art of Travel.&rdquo; From The woman's book, dealing practically with the modern conditions of home-life, self-support, education, opportunities, and every-day problems. 1894. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_LBEhBEGmUq4C/</li>
<li>Bisland, Elizabeth. &ldquo;The Truth About Men and Other Matters.&rdquo; New York. Avondale Press. 1927.</li>
<li>Britannica Editors. "Lafcadio Hearn". Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lafcadio-Hearn. Accessed 18 February 2026.</li>
<li>Codrescu, Andrei. &ldquo;The Many Lives of Lafcadio Hearn.&rdquo; The Paris Review. 7/2/2019. https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/07/02/the-many-lives-of-lafcadio-hearn/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Foley, Alethea "Mattie",&rdquo; Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed February 19, 2026, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/300004770.</li>
<li>Goodman, Matthew. &ldquo;Elizabeth Bisland&rsquo;s Race Around the World.&rdquo; Public Domain Review. 10/16/2013. https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/elizabeth-bislands-race-around-the-world/</li>
<li>Harrison-Kahan, Lori and Karen E. H. Skinazi. &ldquo;The Girl Reporter in Fact and Fiction: Miriam Michelson's New Women and Periodical Culture in the Progressive Era.&rdquo; American Quarterly , Jun., 2002, Vol. 54, No. 2 (Jun., 2002). https://www.jstor.org/stable/30041927</li>
<li>Heitman, Danny. &ldquo;Lafcadio Hearn in New Orleans.&rdquo; HUMANITIES, May/June 2012, Volume 33, Number 3. https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2012/mayjune/feature/lafcadio-hearn-in-new-orleans</li>
<li>New York Times. &ldquo;MRS. E.B. WETMORE, AUTHOR, DIES IN SOUTH; Former Elizabeth Bisland of This City to Be Buried in Woodlawn Today.&rdquo; 1/19/1929. https://www.nytimes.com/1929/01/09/archives/mrs-eb-wetmore-author-dies-in-south-former-elizabeth-bisland-of.html</li>
<li>Christopher Goodwin &amp; Associates, Inc. &ldquo;Historical and Archaeological Investigations of Fort Bisland and Lower Bayou Teche, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.&rdquo; June 1991. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA242489.pdf</li>
<li>Roggenkamp, Karen. &ldquo;Dignified Sensationalism: &lsquo;Cosmopolitan,&rsquo; Elizabeth Bisland, and Trips around the World.&rdquo; American Periodicals , 2007, Vol. 17, No. 1 (2007). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20770967</li>
<li>Rose, Alex. &ldquo;Elizabeth Bisland: Around the World in 76 Days.&rdquo; Science Museum Group. 1/30/2023. https://blog.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/rare-globe-celebrates-elizabeth-bislands-voyage-around-the-world/</li>
<li>Science Museum Group. &ldquo;Elizabeth Bisland 1861-1929.&rdquo; https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp172999/elizabeth-bisland</li>
<li>Tutwiler, Julia R. &ldquo;The Southern Woman in New York.&rdquo; The Bookman: A Magazine of Literature and Life. February, 1904. https://archive.org/details/the-bookman-1895-1933/1900-1909/1904/The%20Bookman%20v18n06%20%281904-02%29%20%28unz%29/page/624/mode/1up</li>
<li>Tutwiler, Julia R. &ldquo;The Southern Woman in New York: Part 2.&rdquo; The Bookman: A Magazine of Literature and Life. March, 1904. https://archive.org/details/bookmanareviewb05unkngoog/page/50/mode/1up</li>
<li>Vatican Apostolic Library. &ldquo;Elizabeth Bisland.&rdquo; En Route Project. https://enrouteproject.com/en/the-research/the-female-travelers/elizabeth-bisland/</li>
<li>Williams, Susan Millar. &ldquo;L&rsquo;enfant Terrible: Elizabeth Bisland and the South.&rdquo; The Southern Review; Oct 1, 1986; 22, 4; ProQuest pg. 680.</li>
</ul>

Journalist and writer Elizabeth Bisland was sent on a trip around the world in 1889, in a sort of race against Nellie Bly. But that was not something she wanted to be known for.

Elizabeth Bisland, Beyond the Trip Around the World

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4023386f-52b1-43c8-8cc4-b4050074d881/transcript

Strawberries

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