August Summary and Analysis

The month of August brings many tourist jokes from the locals, like this one from Faustin: "What is it that changes from the color of a dead rat to the color of a dead lobster in three hours? Les Anglais en vacances... even a moonbeam makes them pink" (p. 134). Faustin also tells the story about a fire near Grasse, and how one of the Canadair airplanes, which scoop water to drop on the flames, had scooped a swimmer out of the water and dropped him on the fire. Peter never did find this tragedy mentioned in the newspaper, and learned later that these sorts of myths are plentiful during the most-touristy season of August.

The Mayles attend a party in Gordes. It is a very formal affair, not at all full of the rambunction of the local Provencals. During the buffet...