De Paris à Pékin par terre: Sibérie-Mongolie

Through the eyes of a weary yet curious explorer, this memoir carries listeners from the frozen steppes of Siberia to the arid expanses of the Gobi, ending at the bustling port cities of northern China. The narrator recorded his observations during a relentless winter trek, stitching together personal notes, sketches, and fifteen detailed engravings that bring the harsh landscapes to life. As he moves from the tea‑laden caravan routes to isolated outposts, he offers a rare glimpse of a world that most European readers of his day could only imagine.

The work shatters the myth of Siberia as a desolate penal colony, revealing thriving commercial hubs like Tomsk, glittering gold fields, and a network of river routes that pulse with activity even in the coldest months. He describes the arduous journeys of officials, merchants, and exiled Poles, whose presence turns remote towns into surprisingly cultured centers. While proposing canals as a practical alternative to an endless railway, the narrative leaves listeners with a vivid portrait of the challenges and opportunities that defined this far‑flung region in the 1870s.