The Nightingale

By August 1944, D-Day has taken place, the Germans are rapidly losing territory in France, and in Carriveau, the airfield has been destroyed. All of this makes Von Richter even crueler: “The Germans were losing the war, and Von Richter seemed hell-bent on making Vianne pay for it” (495). Sophie spots her mother one night after she’s been with Von Richter and brushes aside Vianne’s explanation that she is protecting her: “There’s no such thing […] Grandpère is dead. Tante Isabelle is… […] And Papa…when did we last hear from him? A year? Eight months? He’s probably dead, too” (496). Vianne insists that Antoine and Isabelle are still alive and says what she does with Von Richter is simply “[her] war” (496) to bear.

In September, Vianne realizes that she is pregnant. Roughly a week afterwards, as the Germans leave Carriveau, Von Richter approaches Vianne: “‘I’ll forget you.’ He leaned forward. ‘I wonder if you can say the same’” (501).

Antoine arrives home a month later. Vianne meets him unexpectedly on an evening walk and is shocked by his appearance: “[H]is face had sharpened and his hair had gone gray. White stubble covered his hollow cheeks and jawline, and he was so terribly thin.