The Paris Agent

How does Eloise arrive at the decision to leave her son? What guides her thought processes, and to what extent is she content with this decision? Analyze at least three scenes that demonstrate her ongoing ambivalence and inner struggles.

The flaws of Geraldine’s character are revealed through the various anecdotes of Noah, Kathleen, and Charlotte. Sift through these characters’ subjective viewpoints to discern the truth of Geraldine’s motivations. Why did she hide Read’s letters to Noah, and how would you characterize the dynamics of her marriage?

Theo has spent most of his life pursuing the secrets of his past and looking for his true identity. How does his sense of identity shift when he finally identifies his mother’s name? What does this discovery enable him to do?

What is the role of faith in this text? What does it enable? Highlight the experiences of at least two different characters to support your analysis.

Many of chapters dedicated to the wartime activities of Josie and Eloise are set in either a bustling city or a rural village. What do these two types of setting have in common? What do they reveal about the realities of wartime xenophobia?

Josie deals with celiac disease, which was not well-known in the 1940s; she teaches herself about her disease and determines how to manage it. How does Josie’s experience of managing chronic illness make her a resilient and resourceful agent?

Research the real-life exploits of Violette Szabo and Diana Rowden, the agents whose lives inspired Rimmer to write The Paris Agent. How does the author incorporate true events into her fictional text, and how does this research-based approach enhance the verisimilitude of the novel?

The structure and narration of the text are characterized the alternating perspectives of three different speakers, each of whom represents a different geographic region. How does this narrative choice create a more nuanced view of the world of espionage during World War II, and how would the novel change if it featured only a single narrator?