November Summary and Analysis

A friend is admitted to the Confryrie Saint-Vincent, the winegrowers of his village, and the Mayles attend the inauguration and dinner. They find that all the guests are farmers, used to shouting at one another across fields of vines, and the room is loud with their presence. Once they find their friend, they are surprised to see him looking ill at ease until they learn the reason: there is not a drop of alcohol in sight. Once the speeches are done, however, the wine bottles are uncorked and a sigh of relief seems to go through the crowd. Following a dinner which consists of quail, sea bass, a very alcoholic sorbet to cleanse the palate, beef, soufflys, and champagne, there is dancing which continues long after the Mayles say their goodbyes. This evening causes Peter, not for the first time, to...