La vie et la mort de M. de Tournèves

In the spring of 1796 a weary vicomte steps ashore from a three‑masted ship, his luggage spilling with gold, monkeys and exotic companions. He dreams of buying a country house where he can retire in comfort, but his immediate plans are steered by his old friend, the gruff Captain Loges, who offers him temporary hospitality and a chance to travel to the Antilles. Their shared past of adventure and ruin under the old regime frames a partnership that feels both familiar and uneasy, setting the tone for a tale that balances swagger with melancholy.

Once in the Caribbean, the vicomte plunges into the rum trade, acquiring a factory without paying for it and indulging in the profit‑driven, violent world of plantation life. He adopts the ruthless customs of the island, commanding a growing workforce of enslaved people while drinking the spirit he produces in excess. As his fortunes swell and his moral compass wavers, the story hints at looming conflicts that will test his ambition and the fragile loyalties he has built.