This sad novel takes place in the sahara, "the land of thirst", in Saint-Louis of Senegal, to be exact. Jean Peyral, the young
soldier arrives here with his compagnons, but they dont have much to do. This young man comes from a little village, their old parents and his childhood sweetheart are waiting for him to return, and is very nice and innocent. His friends spend their time drunk, with easy girls from the country, but Jean is not that kind. One
day he
meets Cora, a beautiful and
elegant "coloured" lady, who dresses in parisian style and
asks him to be her
lover. He descovers the joys of first love with her, and spends a happy time. Its here in Coras large and elegant house, where Jean meets Fatou-gaye, a nice little black girl. But unfortunately this happyness has to end one day, when he finds another man with her. Jean falls to peaces and a strange sickness attacks him. He almost
dies in the little hospital. Three years passed, and we find Jean changed, with Fatou by his side as his lover. They live in almost perfect harmony, when Jean receves a letter from his mother, who asks for money for their difficult situation. He has to realize Fatou spended it all on gold jewels. After this the soilders have to go for a fight against another tribe. Jean dies, but Fatou is already pregnant...
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