Point of View

The novel is written in a combination of two points of view with limited perspectives, first person and third person. The majority of the novel is from Violette's perspective in first person. This means the reader knows only what Violette knows until the perspective occasionally changes to other characters. Of the remaining chapters, most are from Philippe's perspective with a few from Genevieve's perspective and some very limited views from other perspectives. The scenes from Philippe's or Genevieve's perspective serve to balance the remainder of the novel, from Violette's perspective. For example, Violette assumes that she has to convince Philippe to move with her for the job at the Brancion-en-Chalon cemetery. When the reader sees that scene from Philippe's perspective, it becomes clear that he is both happy and surprised that Violette is planning on a future with him. He believed that with Leonine's death...