Book Five, Chapters 1-6 Summary

Van is now ninety-seven years of age. He and Ada have many homes in Europe since he has been buying them all of his life. Their favorite is in the Swiss Alps at Ex. They go on long vacations twice a year. Ada likes to photograph butterflies.

Chapter Two reveals that Van hates physicians but once he is living with Ada, Dr. Lagosse lives and travels with them from the time Van is eighty. Van has always been physically fit since he is always active in sports. He switches to slower sports as he ages.

In Chapter Three, Van relates that he has been faithful to Ada since they came together in 1922.

Chapter Four reveals that Violet Knox is hired as their secretary in 1957. She types Van's memoirs. Ada helps him write his memoirs. They write several...