Paris

Paris is the home of Jean in the beginning of the novel. It is the location of his Literary Apothecary and the place where his love affair with Manon took place. Paris is representative of the urban lifestyle and is often contrasted with the rustic Provence from which Manon hails. Paris represents Manon’s second life, full of lust and livelihood.

Provence

Provence is the home of Manon. Manon left Provence in search of adventure and found Jean in Paris. In Provence, Manon enjoyed a stable lifestyle with her husband, Luc, the winemaker. Although she loved Provence and her life there, she craved the adventure of her second life in Paris.

The Literary Apothecary

The Literary Apothecary, Jean’s boat made into a bookshop, is the location where a majority of the novel takes place. In the beginning of the novel, Jean described the ship as an “arrested...