The author does not divide her story into traditional chapters. For the sake of analysis, this summary is divided into three parts, to correspond with the major action in the novel. Part 1 deals with Madeleine's life at home and with the troupe of players, Part 2 is the escape from the widow and Part 3 is the homecoming.

Part 1 Summary

Madeleine is sleeping. Mother hushes Madeleine's brothers and sisters. Madeleine is so beautiful when she sleeps that Mother does not want her woken.

Madeleine is dreaming of a grotesquely fat woman named Matilde. When Matilde walks to market, the village children line up around her like a parade and throw buttery fat at her; they mock her, asking if she is hungry. One day as Matilde walks through the rain of fat, she feels an odd sensation on her back. To her delight, Matilde realizes she has...