Pierre Nozière

A young boy discovers the world through the pages of a well‑worn Bible, where seventeenth‑century engravings turn the garden of Eden into a lush Dutch landscape populated by brabant horses, rabbits and sturdy sheep. The vivid scene of Noah’s ark, Samson’s mighty feats, and the flamboyant headwear of ancient peoples ignite his imagination, making holy stories feel as tangible as the streets outside his window. He spends evenings under a lamp, letting these images mingle with his dreams, believing they shape the very fabric of reality.

As he roams the narrow lanes of Paris, the street once called Petits‑Augustins—now Rue Bonaparte—becomes the edge of his known world. Here, mythic beasts and stone giants guard the river’s brink, blurring the line between legend and everyday life. The narrative follows his early wanderings, capturing the wonder of a childhood that sees history, faith, and the city itself as a single, enchanted garden.