Point of View

The point-of-view of Paris for One is a third-person, omniscient perspective. The narrator enters into the minds of many of the characters, Nell, Fabien, Magda, Lillian, and Peter. Because of this authorial choice, the voice of the novel is straightforward but rather plain, with simple word choices yet a variety of simple, compound, and compound-complex sentences. Descriptions of settings and characters contain a moderate degree of detail, with occasional focus and development, such as the extended description of the Hotel de Bonne Ville and Fabien’s apartment. These descriptions of settings help develop mood as well as develop character. For instance, the belongings in Fabien’s apartment, the antique mirror, the workshop light, and the tall single window, suggest the scope and depth of his imagination.

Language and Meaning

As this novel is set in Paris, Moyes incorporates French phrases into the narrative, such as...