Reading Guide for The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull

Reading Guide Questions

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. How does Thelma's relationship with her mother fundamentally shape her attitude towards men and money ?
2. Thelma's abusive first marriage occurs in the years before the book begins. How does that experience impact her relationships, not only with David and Duke but with all of the people in her life?
3. Thelma's relationship with Gloria has room for criticism, but never disloyalty. How does her attitude towards homosexuality differ from other characters in the novel? How does class distinction play into rules of gender in the 1930s?
4. When Thelma first meets Gertrude Whitney, Gertrude blames Reggie's choices for leaving Gloria in such a dire financial state. Do you think her own choices are justified in seeking custody of Little Gloria?
5. Thelma is genuinely surprised that Duke believes their marriage fell apart because of her relationship with David. Do you think this is fair judgement on Duke? How do Duke's own actions contribute to the end of the marriage?
6. Thelma's relationship with Averill grows and deepens over the course of the book, but Thelma struggles with the idea of being Averill's stepmother. How does that struggle shape her decision to tell Duke about Averill's plan to elope?
7. At the end of the book Thelma calls David a "weak" man. Given his actions over the course of the novel, do you feel he would have made a weak king?
8. Thelma considers Wallis a trusted friend. Do you think her feelings were reciprocated? How does Wallis's conduct change during the course of the book?

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Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Mira. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.