Death of a Dowager (Jane Eyre Chronicles, 2)
Joanna Campbell Slan, 2013
Penguin Group USA
320 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780425253519
Summary
In her classic tale, Charlotte Brontë introduced readers to the strong-willed and intelligent Jane Eyre. The Jane Eyre Chronicles pick up where Brontë left off, with Jane married to her beloved Edward Rochester and mother to a young son. But Jane soons finds herself having to protect those she loves
While extensive repairs are being made to Ferndean, their rural home, Jane and Edward accept an invitation from their friend Lucy Brayton to stay with her in London. Jane is reluctant to abandon their peaceful life in the countryside, but Edward’s damaged vision has grown worse. She hopes that time in the capital will buoy his spirits and give him the chance to receive treatment from an ocular specialist.
Once in London, the Rochesters accompany Lucy to the Italian Opera House. But there is more drama in the audience than on stage—Jane not only unexpectedly finds herself in the presence of King George and his mistress, Lady Conygham, she also encounters an old nemesis in the form of Lady Ingram (whose daughter, Blanche, once hoped to wed Edward herself). The aging dowager deals both Jane and Lucy a very public snub; hoping to mitigate the social damage caused by this, Lucy insists on visiting the Ingrams the next day. The visit goes poorly from the start—and ends with Lady Ingram dropping dead in the midst of taking tea. It soon becomes clear that the dowager’s death was an unnatural one, and Jane must set her considerable intelligence to the problem of solving it—and why the throne appears to have an interest
. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
• Birth— June 22, 1953
• Raised—Vincennes, Indiana, USA
• Education—B.A., Ball State University
• Currently—lives in Jupiter Island, Florida
Joanna Campbell Slan started storytelling—and winning awards for her writing—at an early age. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Joanna grew up in Vincennes, Indiana, and graduated cum laude from Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana) where she majored in journalism. Today she's the author of eleven non-fiction books, a mystery series featuring Kiki Lowenstein, a spunky single mom who loves to scrapbook, and a new series featuring Charlotte Bronte's classic heroine Jane Eyre as an amateur sleuth.
Joanna's first novel—Paper, Scissors, Death—was a 2009 Agatha Award finalist. The Kiki Lowenstein series has been praised by the Library Journal as "topically relevant and chock-full of side stories." Publisher's Weekly calls them, "a cut above the usual craft-themed cozy." RT Book Review has said that Kiki Lowenstein is that she is "our best friend, our next-door neighbor and ourselves with just a touch of the outrageous." Once you've met Joanna, you can guess where the outrageous comes from.
Ready, Scrap, Shoot, the fifth book in the Kiki Lowenstein series, was released in 2012, along with short stories featuring Kiki. A sixth book in that popular series has been scheduled. In addition, Joanna is writing a new historical mystery series featuring Jane Eyre as an amateur sleuth. Death of a Schoolgirl, released also in 2012, marks the first entry in The Jane Eyre Chronicles; it was followed by the second, Death of a Dowager in 2013.
In her ongoing quest to never see snow again, Joanna lives with her two dogs and her husband on a nearly deserted island—Jupiter Island, Florida. (From the author's website.)
Book Reviews
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Discussion Questions
1.In this book, as in Death of a Schoolgirl (the first book in The Jane Eyre Chronicles), we are presented with the question: “How much do we owe other people?” In various ways, characters either take or refuse to take responsibility for how their actions might harm others. Discuss this theme.
2. In various ways, characters in this book try to show their love for other people, only to create troublesome situations. For example, John has shown his love for his master Edward, Lucy has shown her love for her friend Olivia Grainger, and King George IV has shown his love for Maria Fitzherbert. Compare and contrast what love means to each of these pairs. How successful are they are showing their affection?
3. Compare and contrast the relationships of parents with their children in the book. Consider: Dowager Countess Ingram with Blanche and Mary; Jane with Ned; the King and his daughter Princess Charlotte. Discuss how parents try to guide their children, and how sometimes parents do not see their children clearly. Is it possible that on occasion their assumptions about what is “right” for their children might be terribly wrong? How is this shown in the book?
4. Jane’s friend Lucy Brayton worries that she will fail in her desire to be a good mother to her adoptive son. She believes that a natural mother would have instincts that are more in tune with her child’s needs. Do you agree? Why or why not?
5. Jane and Edward face the looming problem of his worsening vision. We see how it has an impact on his moods. Is Jane responsible for keeping Edward happy? What if that comes at the expense of her own happiness?
6. King George IV is shown as a complex character in this book. What did you know of him before reading Death of a Dowager? Has your opinion of him changed as you learned more?
7. Maria Fitzherbert, Queen Caroline of Brunswick, and the Marchioness Elizabeth Conyngham were all real people, and their relationship with the King is accurately described. Consider these in light of modern day royal pairings such as Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Wales, and Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. In what ways have the responsibilities of modern British royalty changed? In what ways are the responsibilities the same?
(Questions found on author's website.)