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These are nine volumes that describe technical, logistical, and financial aspects of the French attempt to build a canal in Panama. Since the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, there had been a desire to carry out works as a way to regain power and prestige. Repeating the success of the Suez Canal, this time in Central America, attracted the attention of the French and especially of the promoter and person in charge of that achievement: Count Ferdinand de Lesseps.

In 1876 the "Société Géographique de Paris", chaired by De Lesseps, reviewed the plans for the interoceanic canal with all the geographical societies of the world. With the desire to promote and finance the exploration, the "Société Civile Internationale du Canal Interocéanique du Darién" (International Civil Society of the Darién Interoceanic Canal) was created that same year. As a result, Lieutenant Lucien Napoleón Bonaparte Wyse, and Lieutenant Armand Reclus, explored several routes of the Isthmus and, in 1878, the Colombian government granted the Wyse Concession, which authorized the construction of a canal through Panama.

The nine volumes describe the technical, logistical, financial details and health aspects of this universal megaproject, and the relevant facets on the hiring of key labour for the works are detailed, as well as important statistics on deaths and work expenses.