1614, Ile de Ré. Everything separates Clément Baron, a poor catholic, and Nicolas Martiau, an upper middle class protestant. Everything except one goal, leave to seek fortune, far from their native island. They became friends on the boat that took them to England. There, Nicolas became the right hand man of a count, while the adulterous love affairs of Clement brought him near execution. He is saved by Nicolas, who must return to the Ile de Ré, because of the death of his father. Henceforth, nothing holds him in France, he returns to London and takes Clément with him to America. They soon land in Virginia...

Nicolas Martiau was a distant ancestor of George Washington, whose statue now stands in the garden of the Saint-Martin-de-Ré museum, offered by American doners.

Robert Béné, retired merchant marine, produces an interesting novel, of great scope and imagination which joins true facts, sympathetic heroes, violence, acts of bravery and romance.