Florens Abentheuer in Afrika, und ihre Heimkehr nach Paris. Erster Band.

A restless crew of scholars, soldiers, and explorers gathers in Toulon in the spring of 1798, each driven by a singular curiosity. The botanist dreams of African grasses, the geometer of distant meridians, the mineralogist of volcanic treasures, while a charismatic officer hopes to steer the expedition toward fame. Their shared mission is deliberately vague—no one knows where the ship’s course will finally end, only that it must launch into the great unknown.

As the vessel slips from the harbor, the sea’s endless horizon swallows their hopes and fears alike. Early tensions flare when a sudden cannonade near Malta forces the fledgling fleet into a chaotic melee, testing the resolve of both the learned and the martial. Amid the smoke and shouted commands, the travelers confront the first true taste of adventure, realizing that the journey will demand more than curiosity alone.