Les roses d'Ispahan: La Perse en automobile à travers la Russie et le Caucase

A vivid early‑twentieth‑century travelogue, the narrative opens with a restless spirit eager to push the limits of the new automobile across unfamiliar lands. The author, accompanied by two enthusiastic young women, leaves the comforts of Paris for the rugged terrain of Bessarabia, the Crimean coast and the storm‑swept Caucasus, recording each arduous mile with a mix of humour and quiet awe. Along the way the journey becomes a collage of striking photographs, crumbling ruins and bustling bazaars, all framed by the relentless pursuit of distant rose‑filled gardens.

Reaching Persia, the expedition contends with soaring deserts, precarious mountain passes near Tabriz and a desperate shortage of fuel in the sacred city of Qom. Yet the hardships deepen the bond among travelers, whose enthusiasm transforms rough inns and icy dawns into unforgettable moments. As they finally arrive in Isfahan, the reader is left with the lingering scent of blossoms and the sense that a world far from Paris can be both beautiful and profoundly moving.