The novel spans the years from 1850 to the end of the 19th century, following the journey of Noël Lambert, who, having grown up in rural isolation, spoke not a word and was determined to become a warrior. When the Franco-Prussian conflict erupts in the summer of 1870, he enlists as a volunteer in the army of Emperor Napoléon III, almost still a child. Lambert narrowly escapes death amidst the chaos of battle and is cared for in an inn converted into a hospital by Blanchefleur. After the war, the young man, whose beauty has captivated many women, retreats to the solitude of the Canadian forests. Years later, he returns to a land that is still ravaged, plundered, and traumatized. Once again, he seeks refuge with Blanchefleur, his one true love.