Daughters of the House Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 12, The Baby Book Summary

Chapter 12, The Baby Book Summary

Léonie's birthday is one week after Thérèse's, just before the summer holiday when Léonie and Madeleine travel from England to France. A baby book records Léonie's first words, and Madeleine will not let her daughter take the book with her. In the voyage across the channel, Léonie briefly leaves one identity behind and takes on another. Antoinette, Louis, and Thérèse greet Léonie and Madeleine as they disembark from the boat. Antoinette's demeanour is stiff and rather bossy, and she comments on Léonie's hair not being properly brushed. Madeleine greets Louis warmly, taking his arm and complimenting him on his beret. Antoinette interrupts, commenting that the two travelers look starved. Léonie enjoys being a foreigner for a change.

Chapter 12, The Baby Book Analysis

More dualities are brought up in this chapter, this time the difference between two languages and two cultural identities. Léonie feels that she is physically traveling between English and French as she and...
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