Originally he planned a week in France to do research for his magnum opus, Sox of Sand, a religious farce about the Desert Fathers of 4th century a.d. However, while staying at a friend's apartment in Monte Carlo, he unwittingly becomes involved with a group of ex-pat Czechs, one who is a restaurateur and 6'10" basketball star for Monaco. One evening the giant shows up at the apartment to take Ben to his restaurant for dinner. Failing to be able to communicate a polite refusal, Ben reluctantly accepts. The night transforms Ben from a visiting writer to 'Prisonier l'americain." And thus Ben's adventure as a captive of the French penal system and French Justice begins. As the years go by he realizes the contrariness and arduous nature of French Law. Resigning himself to his situation he concentrates on the completion of his 'magnum opus" while plotting escape. Meanwhile Ben struggles to help his fellow inmates, to arrange secret rendezvous with Sassie, a young German, in La M.A.F., the women's prison, and to deal with restless Arab thugs calling for the death of all American Infidels as the first Gulf War commences.
