READERS GUIDE
Reader’s GuideEliza and the Duke by Harper St. George
Discussion Questions:
1. Eliza is the youngest Dove sister and from an unconventional family. What parts of her personality, if any, do you think were shaped by being the youngest sister?
2. When Eliza comes across Simon in the secret hallway in Montague Club, she is immediately fascinated by him. What do you think spurs this need in her to find out more about him?
3. In what ways did Eliza’s decision to seize one night of freedom put the rest of her family at risk? Do you think she thought through the repercussions before making her decision?
4. Would Eliza have followed Simon and propositioned him if she had been born to an English family? How do you think the fact that she was American impacted her decisions?
5. The Victorian Era in England and especially urban areas like London was marked by vast discrepancies between the extravagant wealth of the upper class and the poverty of the working class. How did Simon’s upbringing in Whitechapel shape his character and the decisions he made throughout the book?
6. On its surface, this is a story about class difference, but Eliza points out multiple times that she and Simon have similar backgrounds. What are the similarities and differences in their backgrounds? Do you think she’s right to claim they aren’t all that different?
7. James Brody was a huge figure in Simon’s life. Brody manipulated this by holding leverage that forced Simon to fight for him far longer than he was willing. Do you think that Simon had other options or was he really trapped under Brody’s control? What fears might have kept him trapped?
8. Victorian Whitechapel is frequently portrayed in movies as a dark and dangerous place. There is no doubt that this is one aspect of its personality that cannot be overlooked, but it was also a place filled with dance halls and music halls, small theaters, and street vendors. Did anything about how Whitechapel was portrayed surprise you?
