L'Escalier d'Or

The narrator introduces himself as a man driven by an unquiet curiosity, a pleasure in stepping into the lives of strangers and sharing their joys and sorrows. He recalls vibrant salons of Marseille, red‑sided rooms overlooking bustling ports, and a quiet garden in Saint‑Loup where poetry and friendship blossomed. Now settled in the mixed‑character neighbourhood of the Palais‑Royal, he offers a vivid picture of Parisian streets that pulse with both elegance and everyday hustle.

Through this lens he turns his attention to Valère Bouldouyr, an eccentric figure whose singular temperament has left a curious imprint on those around him. The portrait promises a series of encounters that reveal the quirks, hopes, and contradictions of a man who skirts the mainstream literary circles of his time. Listeners will be drawn into a richly textured portrait that feels both intimate and observational, a tribute to the fleeting connections that shape a life.