How do you think the flooding of Paris in 1910 fits in to the narrative of Paris Winter?

How do you think the flooding of Paris in 1910 fits in to the narrative of Paris Winter? Why do you think the author choose this event as a backdrop to the story?

It was a time in history I didn't know about. It added authenticity to the story I thought.

It helped establish the timing of the story in a unique way, and provided color and authenticity to Maud's attempt to extract revenge.

Beautifully. It helped set the scene for Maud's retribution. The vagaries of nature was welded in really well.

The floods of Paris brought extra excitement to the story. Mauds plan for revenge fit in well with the total upheavel of the beautiful city also.

I did not know there was such a flood in Paris at the time. It fits into the turbulent action a of the characters

It's a plot device, of course, a "change maker," to reveal character (just how bad Perov was, so Tanya would break it off, and to open her own eyes to the reality of misery she'd been able to shrug off with her furs, before)... and, to further the action, provide the opportunity for the revenge, and for killing off Morel and Sylvie.

It's also a metaphor: as water rises, so does Maud's obsession with revenge and haunting, and so does Morel's madness build, and so does Yvette's reckless daring... the flood seems to represent the rising danger of excessive passion.

Interesting that it has the effect of dramatically picking up the pace of the story, sweeping us along, whereas the story began by flowing along so gently, slowly, that it was hard to keep going at first...

i think it was an important element and enhanced the story.

The flooding added a dimension to the characters. How they responded in a crisis shows more of their character and allows us to see them react in an unusual situations. The flood also allowed for Morel's death not to be noticed right away, or for the gendarmes to question Sylvie's suicide immediately. That allowed for Yvette and Maud to get away. It also added to Morel's "haunting". It turns out he already showed signs of mental illness as he kept returning to the death of his father.

I had to look up the Paris flood because I had never heard of it. I believe it fit in perfect with the story in many ways. I agree with Navy Mom in this respect.

The flood represents a tragedy, the same as is happening in Maud's life. It eats at the land and wipes out what was there before. Maud's life is totally changed by Morel and Sylvia. Her former life and beliefs are wiped out. The death of Morel and Sylvia wipe out and cover the sins they committed. The flood is symbolic of what is going on in Maud's life.