The island of Cuba, one of the earliest discoveries of the great admiral, has been known to Europe since 1492, and has borne, successively, the names of Juana, Fernandina, Santiago and Ave Maria, having found refuge at last in the aboriginal appellation. Soon after its discovery by Columbus, it was colonized by Spaniards from St. Domingo, but was considered mainly in the light of a military depot, by the home government, in its famous operations at that period in Mexico. The fact that it was destined to prove the richest jewel in the Castilian crown, and a mine of wealth to the Spanish treasury, was not dreamed of at this stage of its history. Even the enthusiastic followers of Cortez, who sought that fabulous El Dorado of the New World, had no golden promise to hold forth for this gem of the Caribbean Sea... Cuba became the head-quarters of the Spanish power in the west, forming the point of departure for those military expeditions which, though inconsiderable in numbers, were so formidable in the energy of the leaders, and in the arms, discipline, courage, ferocity, fanaticism and avarice, of their followers, that they were amply adequate to carry out the vast schemes of conquest for which they were designed. It was hence that Cortez marched to the conquest of Mexico,- a gigantic undertaking - one a slight glance at which will recall to the reader the period of history to which we would direct his attention.

Autumn 1940. The Alsace region of France is facing annexation by Hitler's army. A group of teenagers find a French arsenal abandoned in the woods near Strasbourg. Soon after, they enter the Resistance and form their own battalion, The Ivy Leaf. At the heart of the group is fifteen-year-old Bernard, who, along with his comrades, risks his life to wrest Alsace from the Nazi's ugly web. Summer 1995. Grégoire learns the art of fly-fishing under the watchful eye of his grandfather Bernard, who has taught him to appreciate nature. But that is not the only legacy Bernard has to pass on. In this sweeping graphic novel, Grégoire Carle carefully reconstructs his grandfather's story, all the while painting an intimate portrait of Alsace's unique history.