This book, dedicated to the cosmographer Andre Thevet (1516-1592), is divided into four, like the four winds of the earth. It situates Thevet in his context (Le cosmographe en son siecle), considers the idea of the Mediterranean Orient (L'Orient captif), looks at the explorations and great discoveries of the time (Le Monde ouvert), and draws lessons from Thevet's travels (Lecons de plein vent). Everything occurs on the islands in the sea.