Marguerite De Roberval: A Romance of the Days of Jacques Cartier

In the mist‑shrouded streets of 16th‑century Saint‑Malo, the famed explorer Jacques Cartier walks with his steadfast companion Claude de Pontbriand, debating the moral fallout of their first voyages to the New World. Their moonlit conversation drifts from the sorrowful fate of the Indigenous chiefs they captured to the restless lure of untapped riches across the Atlantic. As the king’s court swirls with ambitions for gold, diamonds, and furs, Cartier wrestles with a growing sense that his legacy may be built on fragile lies. The atmosphere is thick with the salty promise of uncharted oceans and the uneasy silence of a nation poised on the brink of empire.

Enter Marguerite de Roberval, a fierce and independent spirit who dreams of a life beyond the cramped alleys of France. Though bound by duty, she conceives a daring plan to sail westward, hoping to claim her own destiny amid the swirling tides of exploration. As her path intersects with Cartier’s, both man and woman must confront ambition, honor, and the cost of daring to rewrite history.