A Marvellous Light

How does the use of dual point of view work to reveal how Robin and Edwin both understand and misunderstand each other? What assumptions do they each draw from in assessing the other, and which of these assumptions are later proven wrong?

How does Freya Marske establish Jack Alston (Hawthorn) as a complex character? Which aspects of his personality contrast with his apparent bullying of Edwin?

How does Marske use scenes of dinner table conversation to illustrate the ways manners and social convention can disguise cruelty and prejudice?

Consider the character of Flora Sutton. Does she represent a different understanding of power than that of Walt and the other male antagonists in the novel?

Consider the character of Adelaide Morrissey. How is her feminism similar to, or different from, Maud Blyth’s?

How does Marske use scenes of sexual intimacy to illustrate key character traits and character growth?

How does Edwin’s understanding of power and weakness prove fundamental to his character arc?

In what ways does magic, or lack thereof, mimic Edwardian class structures and restrictions on freedom for women and LGBTQ+ people?