# How I Didn’t Drive Major Blank’s Car to Camp Such-and-Such explained — My Four Weeks in France

> Chapter companion for My Four Weeks in France by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

The narrator attempts to drive an American major's car from Paris to an artillery camp, but is thwarted by a series of bureaucratic obstacles: he needs a special pass, photographs, tools, tires, an essence ticket, and a driver's license. After finally securing everything, a telegram arrives ordering him to hold the car in Paris, so he abandons the plan and books passage home.

## Themes in this chapter

### Bureaucratic Absurdity

The narrator faces endless paperwork, multiple passes, dossiers, and permissions just to drive a car.

### Culture Clash and Humor

The narrator's struggles with French language, customs, and bureaucracy are played for comedy.

### Wartime Inconvenience and Danger

The war creates constant obstacles: sentries, gasoline controls, and the need for special passes.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

The narrator attempts to drive a major's car to camp but is defeated by bureaucracy.

### Mr. Kiley

Mentioned as having driven the car from Le Havre.

### Captain Vandervelde

The narrator visits Captain Vandervelde to get an order for tools.

### The Officer

The narrator deals with various officers and officials for passes and permissions.

## Key lines

> I’ve never handled, or, rather, footled one of the little birds, but it’s something everybody should learn, like French and auction and how to swim.

The narrator admits he has never driven a car, but thinks it is a basic skill everyone should learn.

_Shows the narrator's casual attitude toward a dangerous task._

> A telegram was waiting there for me. “Hold car in Paris,” it said. “Camp may be moved any day.”

A telegram arrives telling the narrator to keep the car in Paris because the camp might relocate.

_The final bureaucratic twist that ends the driving attempt._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/my_four_weeks_in_france_se/chapters/vi-how-i-didn-t-drive-major-blank-s-car-to-camp-such-and-such
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/my_four_weeks_in_france_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/my_four_weeks_in_france_se/chapters