This fourth book in the series, which was first published in England in 1960, sees Angélique leave the confines of France for the first time.
She embarks on a series of adventures around the Mediterranean – more precisely the Barbary Coast of North Africa, which led to the American editions of the book being called Angélique in Barbary. In French the book was called Indomitable Angélique.
Our heroine leaves France against the King’s wishes because of the possibility of a reunion with Joffrey and intends to sail to the Greek island of Crete.
She falls under the power, control and influence of a series of men and endures various physical and mental challenges, including being sold as a slave at Candia (Iráklion), Crete.
Her problems are far from over when she is presented as a gift to Mulay Ismail, Sultan of Morocco and imprisoned in his harem – but Angélique hatches a daring plan to escape.
However, freedom proves to be as elusive as ever and Angélique is set to return to more familiar territory…