De Pontoise à Stamboul

A lively, first‑person chronicle follows a restless traveller who leaves Paris and, in the span of just thirteen days, finds himself aboard the swift Orient Express, whisked through the Carpathians, and wandering the bustling streets of Constantinople. The narrative crackles with the excitement of a freshly opened world—tea with a king in Bucharest, a grand summer‑palace inauguration, and the thrill of a modern sleeping‑car carriage that promises comfort across continents. The narrator’s vivid impressions make each stop feel immediate, as if the very tremor of the train still lingers in his spine.

Guided by the charismatic Belgian banker Delloye‑Matthieu, the story offers a glimpse into the glittering social circles of the era, where financiers, engineers, and journalists converge for a pioneering railway venture. Through witty observations and keen detail, the book captures the spirit of 1880s Europe—its rapid technological advances, its romantic allure, and the sense that every journey could become a remarkable adventure. Listeners will be drawn into a world where travel itself becomes a dazzling, unforgettable experience.