Part 1: The Prologue
The men line up in Compiègne. They were promised rain, but the conditions are fair, a small mercy in a race known for its mercilessness. The Château de Compiègne, built as an outpost for Louis XV, poses a pretty picture in the background, all Neoclassical grace and 18th century opulence, the cloud-filtered sun casting flattering shad…
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