"Facing the Flag" by Jules Verne tells the story of Thomas Roch, a brilliant French inventor who has created Turmaline, a devastating explosive of unprecedented power. When his own government refuses to meet his demands, the embittered scientist descends into madness and is kidnapped by the notorious pirate Ker Karraje, who hides in Back Cup, a hollow island in the Bermudas. Narrated by engineer Simon Hart, who poses as Roch's caretaker, the novel follows the struggle to prevent pirates from weaponizing the invention. In a dramatic climax, Roch's dormant patriotism awakens, and he destroys the pirate stronghold, sacrificing himself for his homeland.
