The Red Queen Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, and our BookBrowse Review of The Red Queen.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

Introduction
In a way, The Red Queen is two novels - two simmering storylines set centuries apart yet entwined through one legacy. Showcasing her renowned imaginative powers, Margaret Drabble now plumbs a collage of worlds, from the private rooms of a Korean crown princess to a fateful conference in Seoul that unlocks a scholar's heart and mind.

While on a research grant at Oxford, Barbara Halliwell receives an unexpected package, shipped anonymously from an online bookseller. Though she is unable to determine who sent her this gift, she is intrigued and brings it with her en route to an international public-health meeting, where she is slated to present a paper. At thirty-six thousand feet, wishing she weren't in the plane's economy class, Dr. Halliwell begins reading the mysterious memoir. Written more than two hundred years ago, it recounts the extraordinary life of Crown Princess Hyegyong, who lived under a tragic regime that left her a widow and grieving mother. As the princess describes the details of an era steeped in ritual and banished emotions, Dr. Halliwell is determined to learn more, unaware that the princess has chosen her to give voice to this remarkable story. And as the princess narrates her life, Margaret Drabble narrates the tender love affair that emerges from Dr. Halliwell's journey.

A novel of abundant wit and arresting turns, The Red Queen brims with intriguing facets. We hope that the following questions and topics will enhance your discussion of this mesmerizing novel. For additional guides from Harcourt, visit us at www.HarcourtBooks.com.


Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. In the prologue, the author writes, "I have not attempted to . . . reconstruct 'real life' in the Korean court of the late eighteenth century. Instead, I have asked questions about the nature of survival, and about the possibility of the existence of universal transcultural human characteristics." In what ways is the medium of fiction particularly well suited to this task? What do the novel's heroines reveal about the nature of survival and universal experiences?
   


2. What do "Lady Hong's" opening paragraphs indicate about her childhood? Was she a suitable choice for Prince Sado?
   


3. In your opinion, did Crown Princess Hyegyong love her husband and their children? How do her feelings toward her father-in-law compare to those she expresses about her own father? What seems to be the role of love in King Yongjo's court?
   

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.