Lacoste, France

Lacoste is a village in southeastern France, specifically in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. David and Eleanor have a vacation home in Lacoste. The novel’s main narrative takes place over the course of two consecutive days in Lacoste. Victor, Anne, Nicholas, and Bridget gather in Lacoste to visit the Melroses at their Lacoste vacation home.

Melrose Vacation Home

David and Eleanor have owned a vacation home in Lacoste for about a decade. There, they employ two French servants: Yvette the maid and Francois the groundskeeper. In the novel’s main narrative, the house provides the setting for the illustration of the Melrose family’s general status quo of discontentment, as David is generally abusive towards Eleanor and Patrick.

The Grounds

At multiple points in the novel, David leaves the vacation home to play on the surrounding grounds. While playing, Patrick is free to exercise his imagination...