The novel is fundamentally the story of five months in the lives of David Bourne, an American writer, and his wife Catherine. It is set mainly in the French Riviera, specifically in the Côte d'Azur, and in Spain. The story begins with their honeymoon in the Camargue, then moves to Spain, then back to France (at a "long low rose-colored Provençal house where they had stayed before... in the pines on the Estérel side of la Napoule" (within easy driving distance to Cannes).[1] However, early in the book, Catherine seemed to change (from David's point of view—the novel is entirely from his vantage). While at le Grau du Roi, Catherine announces "I have a big surprise",[2] but does not tell David what it is other than to hint "Oh it's very simple but it's very complicated"[3] and "...I'm going to be changed."[4] She bicycles into town, then returns with "Her hair... cropped as short as a boy's."[5] Later, that night, she tells him "Don't call me girl." and "Please love me David the way I am."[6] and implies that he is changing also ("You are changing," she said. "Oh you are. You are. Yes you are and you're my girl Catherine.")
While in Spain, Catherine twice acts jealous about David reading clippings of reviews of his latest book—rudely saying "you clipping reader" the second time[7]—and they have a mild spat. (He: "Why don't you just shut up about the clippings." She: "Why should I shut up? Just because you wrote this morning? Do you think I married you because you're a writer? You and your clippings."[8])
After their return to France, the Bournes soon meet a young woman named Marita, with whom they both fall in love. Catherine seemingly continues to explore gender roles, while David gets increasingly uncomfortable. Both Catherine and David sleep with Marita, although not at the same time. David's relationship with his wife deteriorates as she stops adhering to the gender roles expected of her—sometimes acting jealous of both Marita and his work, then reversing herself. Meanwhile, Marita gradually transitions into the supporting wife role.
It eventually develops that Catherine only wants David to work on what is referred to as the "narrative", which is apparently a narrative of their lives, and not his "stories", tales of his childhood and his father. (Catherine characterizes the "stories" as "The dreary dismal little stories about your adolescence with your bogus drunken father."[9]) David (who has been somewhat passive in his reactions so far) really starts to react, however, when Catherine suddenly declares that she had "made decisions and planned things", which turns out to mean that she's going to "have the [narrative] manuscript typed up to where it is now and see about getting illustrations."[10] David takes this as interference in his work ("And if I don't want it copied yet?")[11] and gets very upset. He tells Catherine "I'm sick of all of it, Devil [his private name for her]. Sick all the way through me."[12]
It culminates when Catherine tells David while they are on the beach that she burned the press clippings.[13] After they return to where they are staying, he finds that the stories he had written are missing too while the "narrative" is intact. "Now he knew that it had happened but still thought it might be some ghastly joke."[14] Catherine confirms that she destroyed the "stories" too: "They were worthless and I hated them."[15] It later develops that she burned them beyond recovery. David is stunned, but lashes out "I'm sorry I ever met you. I'm sorry I ever married you--"[16] Catherine then announces that she is going to leave for Paris "to see about artists for the book [the "narrative"]" and that she will pay him for the destroyed "stories".[17] Although she says that she loves him and will return, the ending implies a separation of David and Catherine is imminent.
