Valkoisella kivellä

In a bustling Roman tavern, five old friends settle into a dim corner after a walk through the ancient Forum. The clatter of plates and faded portraits of past leaders create a vivid backdrop for their animated discussion. Joseph Leclerc, a diplomatic envoy, joins historian Goubin, printer‑descendant Nicole Langelier, engineer Jean Boilly, and the carefree artist Hippolyte Dufresne, each bringing a distinct shade to the conversation over glasses of chianti. Their camaraderie offers a lively canvas on which larger questions are painted.

The dialogue quickly turns to history’s shadows and the uncertain shape of tomorrow. They grapple with the erosion of courage in the face of looming crises, the limits of knowledge about past upheavals, and the possibility of foreseeing future social currents. Through sharp, often ironic observation, the narrator exposes the hypocrisy of militarism, the distortions of law, and the rise of capitalist power, while hinting at a hopeful, scientifically guided path for the working class. The stage is set for a compelling exploration of idealism and realism in a world on the brink of change.