"now" in the past

[Molly]

Is the use of "now" in past tense narratives, seen in the examples below, quite common? Is it good style?

There can be no denying the effect of the Palestinian presence upon Lebanon. By 1975, the Palestinian population --; swollen by refugees from Israel's conquest of the West Bank in 1967 and from the Jordanian civil war --; was around 350,000. But now it was also an armed presence, established by the PLO guerrillas and their leaders who had been forced out of Amman by King Husain.

Pity the nation: Lebanon at war. Fisk, Robert. Oxford: OUP, 1991

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At Bletchley I had begun to satisfy, however pathetically and inadequately, a desire to see the world about me, but then had neither the time nor the money nor the opportunity for anything other than very restricted local journeys. Besides, the propaganda slogan "Is Your Journey Really Necessary?" was fretted into one's mind. Now it was possible to travel to certain parts of Europe. Paris would definitely be an adventure, especially since I would be going alone. Roza Niedzwiedz would gladly have come with me but, as an alien, she feared she would not be granted re-entry into Britain.

Enigma variations: a memoir of love and war. Young, Irene. Edinburgh: Mainstream Pub. Ltd, 1990.

[Nicdd]

Hello to everybody!

Where I can find an introduce yourself thread on the forum?

Thanks,
Nic

[Haihao]

I would think this kind of usage of now is to mean: at this point in the series of events = then. (sometimes = in these circumstances, as things are, etc.)