Book Club Discussion Questions
For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Victoria London and our BookBrowse Review of The Great Stink.
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
A tale of murder and deceit set in Europe's most legendary city, The Great Stink
takes readers inside a little-known chapter of Victorian history. Beneath the
streets of London, where sewers sprawl for miles and infested tunnels stoke
raging epidemics, engineer William May goes to work. He is part of a team
charged with shoring up this subterranean realm and, as his wife often reminds
him, though the assignment is grueling it is nonetheless a plum job.
William is no stranger to horrific scenes; he is still haunted by memories of
recent combat on the front lines of the Crimean War. His new work brings
unexpected peace to his troubled mind. But once he uncovers a dangerous web of
government corruption, perpetrated by the man who controls William's livelihood,
he loses his tenuous hold on sanity, and the ghosts of his past are unleashed.
When the deception culminates in murder, William becomes the sole suspect. Only
a sewer scavenger holds the key to proving whether he is guilty-a question
William himself cannot answer with certainty.
Combining the pace of a page-turner and written by a marvelously talented
historical writer, The Great Stink is a riveting debut. We hope the following
questions will enhance your discussion of this unforgettable novel.
Questions and Topics for Discussion
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How were you affected by the novel's underground setting?
Besides the sewers of London, what other "underground" worlds exist in The
Great Stink?
-
What enables Robert Rawlinson to act with compassion toward
William, while so many others treat him harshly? What were your first
impressions of William, particularly as the story of his survival at Balaclava
unfolded?
-
In what way did the novel's shifting points of view enhance
the suspense? What were your images of the narrator in the chapters that
depicted Tom?
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- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Harvest Books.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.