Face Au Drapeau
1896
A novel written in the late 19th century. The story is set primarily in the Healthful-House, a health institution where wealthy patients, particularly suffering from chronic illnesses or mental disturbances, are cared for. At its center is the character Thomas Roch, a brilliant yet troubled inventor struggling with mental health issues, whose genius still resonates amid his precarious state. The opening of the novel introduces the Healthful-House and the forthcoming visit of Count d'Artigas, who seeks to meet Thomas Roch. It details the establishment's reputation for luxury and hygiene and sheds light on the ill-fated inventor, who was incarcerated due to his unstable mental condition following the failures and frustrations that plagued his innovative endeavors. The narrative hints at d'Artigas's true motives, suggesting he may have ulterior motives for wanting to see Roch, given the rumors of the inventor's potential for revolutionary inventions, specifically one known as the Fulgurateur, which is said to possess extraordinary destructive power.
