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The Hellfire Conspiracy:
Reading Group Guide
Questions for Discussion
- The Hellfire Conspiracy opens with Major Trevor Devere of her Majesty's
Horse Guard unceremoniously forcing his way into private inquirey agent Cyrus Barker's
office. Why is the Major upset? How does Barker get the Major to "shape up" before
he suffers a complete breakdown?
- With what kind of tone does our narrator, Thomas Llewelyn, assistant to Cyrus
Barker, use when describing the opening events? What does Thomas's tone reveal about
him? What words would you use to describs Thomas from the way he tells the story?
- Why is it called "white slavery"? How does it differ from any other slavery?
Discuss why this is or isn't a racist phrase in 1885.
- When Thomas mentions the legal age of consent &mdash 13 years old &mdash
were you surprised? What does legal age of consent mean? Does the meaning differ
today as compared to in 1885? What age should the legal age of consent be? Why
is it not 13 years old today?
- What reason does Barker give Thomas when he asks why the government doesn't
put an end to white slavery? What does Barker's answer tell you about his beliefs
about class and social justice?
- William Stead, editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, is also investigating
the disappearance of young girl's. What is the goal of his investigation and how
does it differ from Barker and Thomas's and the police's goals? What happens to Stead
in the end?
- How does the rivalry between Scotland Yard, the Thames Police and the Metropolitan
Police influence the plot? Do similar rivalries exist between governmental service
groups today?
- What is the common factor among the girls who have gone missing? How does
this lead Barker to the murderer? Are you surprised when you learn who the
murderer is? Were there any clues provided prior to the revelation? If so, what
were they?
- Each installment in Will Thomas's series of books reveals a little more about
Thomas's past. What new fact do we learn about Thomas's past in The Hellfire
Conspiracy?
- What do you think about journalism that has a social goal behind it &mdash
can it be unbiased as journalism is supposed to strive to be? Does this type of
journalism have a legitimate place in the greater arena of news reporting?
Book Club Tips:
- Read the previous Barker and Llewelyn books chronologically and discuss
how the characters change and what keeps them interesting to you.
- Read some of Edmund Lear's tales and see if you can find hints of the
strong-willed character presented in The Hellfire Conspiracy in them.
- Discuss who should play each of the characters in the film version of
The Hellfire Conspiracy and why.
- Find an English-style pub in your town and hold your meeting there.
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