Call of the Open Sea: A Memoir

The Incredible true story of Michel Adrien, who build a commercial fishing empire in West Africa amidst decolonization and the Cold War.

I recently had the privilege of translating my grandfather’s memoir into English. It’s been an enriching experience to learn about his story with such depth. The following is the introduction I wrote for the English version of the book.

Translator’s Introduction

In 2014, my father called me to announce that Groupe Adrien had filed for bankruptcy. It marked the end of thirty years of familial strife over a commercial empire plagued by mismanagement, corruption, and diminishing global oceanic resources. Ten years prior, my grandfather had made the list of the five hundred richest men in France. That day, it was all gone. To me, it was a relief. Our family had done nothing but fight over the dwindling family fortune, and it had torn us apart. Out of respect for my family members, I will not disclose all that happened, only that the children of a man whose life path had been nothing short of remarkable had torn his legacy to pieces.

The story you are about to read is one of those exceptiona…