56 pages 1 hour read

Anne Tyler

The Accidental Tourist

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1985

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 1-4

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 1 Summary

Married couple Macon and Sarah Leary drive back from the beach. What was supposed to be a week-long vacation has been cut short as “neither of them had the heart for it” (1). Their son, Ethan, has died recently. Macon drives, wearing his comfortable formal summer suit for traveling, while Sarah sits in the passenger seat, freshly tanned and wearing a terrycloth dress. Macon is pale, having kept out of the sun. 

It begins to rain, and Sarah becomes anxious, watching the road carefully. Macon assures her that he’s fine driving. Sarah asks if he can see okay, and he confirms he can. The rain becomes heavier. Sarah comments that she’s not sure how Macon can see, to which Macon replies that Sarah should put on her glasses since she’s only focusing on the windshield. 

As they go under an overpass, Sarah comments that there’s a boy on a motorcycle waiting out the rain and suggests they do the same. Macon tells her that he would've stopped if he felt it was dangerous. Sarah is skeptical. She questions if Macon really cares. She reminds him of a conversation they had the other day in which Sarah wonders if there’s any point to life without Ethan.

Related Titles

By Anne Tyler

Plot Summary

logo

A Patchwork Planet

Anne Tyler

A Patchwork Planet

Anne Tyler

Study Guide

logo

A Spool of Blue Thread

Anne Tyler

A Spool of Blue Thread

Anne Tyler

Study Guide

logo

Average Waves in Unprotected Waters

Anne Tyler

Average Waves in Unprotected Waters

Anne Tyler

Plot Summary

logo

Breathing Lessons

Anne Tyler

Breathing Lessons

Anne Tyler

Plot Summary

logo

Digging to America

Anne Tyler

Digging to America

Anne Tyler

Study Guide

logo

Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant

Anne Tyler

Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant

Anne Tyler

Study Guide

logo

French Braid

Anne Tyler

French Braid

Anne Tyler

Study Guide

logo

Redhead by the Side of the Road

Anne Tyler

Redhead by the Side of the Road

Anne Tyler

Study Guide

logo

Teenage Wasteland

Anne Tyler

Teenage Wasteland

Anne Tyler