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1. Why does Violeta write her story for Camilo?

Violeta writes her story for Camilo. She wants to leave him a testimony of her life. She imagines that someday when he is old he may wish to stop and remember her. Since his memory is not great, she is writing so he will have a record of her life.

2. When is Violeta born?

Violeta is born on a stormy Friday in 1920, the year of the Spanish flu. The electricity goes out during the storm. Her mother, Maria Gracia, labors with the help of her sisters since the family doctor is working in a field hospital and the midwife she used previously died from the flu.

3. Why does the Spanish flu not take Arsenio Del Valle by surprise?

The Spanish flu does not take Arsenio Del Valle by surprise. He keeps up to date on the news of the world through foreign newspapers, although they are dated by the time he receives them. When he learns of the pandemic, he begins making plans. He arms men to protect his home and businesses and buys a revolver for himself. He buys enough supplies to last the winter. He sends his four youngest sons down south. The women of the house are ordered to remain indoors and not leave. He and his oldest son Jose Antonio clean themselves with alcohol when they come home.

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