Malcolm’s canoe is called La Belle Sauvage, named after his uncle’s pub, which featured a sign of a beautiful woman who had done something brave. What is the significance of this name and Malcolm’s canoe? Why is the novel called La Belle Sauvage?

How does Malcolm and Alice’s relationship develop and change over the course of the story?

The novel is divided into two parts, “The Trout” and “The Flood.” How are the parts different, and how does this structure affect the story?