La 628-E8 Comprenant en annexe le chapitre intégral "Balzac"

An early 20th‑century road‑tripper sets off in one of the first automobiles, dedicating his voyage to the visionary engineer who built the machine. Along dusty mountain passes and quiet market towns he records the thrill of speed against a backdrop of unspoiled landscapes, while the car carries him far from the routine worries of everyday life. The narrative opens with a quiet evening in the Jura, where the traveler finds refuge in a modest inn and soon becomes a guest at a farmers’ table, sharing trouts and local wine.

What follows is a vivid portrait of the people he meets—hard‑working, curious peasants who speak plainly about their hopes for education, progress and a fairer society. Their conversations reveal a yearning for practical knowledge, a critique of stagnant schooling, and an optimistic embrace of new technology as a tool for collective uplift. The memoir blends personal adventure with thoughtful reflections on how the road can connect disparate lives toward a broader human unity.