A story of love and friendship across all borders. In a Europe that once existed before it destroyed itself. Karlsbad, 1871. The era of wars seems to be forever over, and guests from all over Europe gather in the Bohemian spa town. Among them are Vicky, the daughter of a London industrial family who wants to tunnel under the English Channel to connect England with the continent; Paul, a Berlin engineer hoping to contribute to the construction of a grand boulevard called Kurfürstendamm; and Auguste Escoffier, an aspiring master chef from Paris, whose name will become synonymous with French cuisine worldwide. United in the belief that glorious times are ahead, the three dive into life and love. Driven by grand dreams, they are unaware that Europe will soon be shaken by upheavals that threaten not only peace but also their personal happiness. The great duology of the turn of the century: astonishingly relevant, atmospherically rich.