READERS GUIDE

A tale of social ascent and descent, all-consuming love, religious persecution, exile, ambition, privilege, and revolution, To Dance with Kings is a front row seat to history, from the court of Louis XIV through the French Revolution, told by four extraordinary women who lived it.

The questions in this guide are intended as a framework for your group’s discussion of To Dance with Kings.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. Augustin Roussier appears in the opening scene of the novel. What was your initial impression of him? Did your expectations shift at any point? In what ways is he the man he initially appears to be, and in what ways did he surprise you?

2. How does the relentless drive to ensure a better life for Marguerite dominate the character of Jeanne, and how does it impact later generations of women in her family? In what way can you see Jeanne’s legacy in each of them?

3. What is your opinion of Susanne? How do you feel about her suspicion and betrayal of Margeurite? What motivates these actions? Are her intentions honorable or selfish? Is she attempting to protect the man she loves or gain the upper hand over a rival? Were you surprised to learn of her secret marriage to Augustin?

4. Discuss the persecution of the Huguenots under Louis XIV. Previous to reading To Dance with Kings, what did you know of this era of French history? What other historical periods have seen similar treatment of religious or cultural minorities? In the novel, what are the major factors driving the cycle of violence? Do you see these same politics playing out in current world events? How does it compare to the treatment of the royalists after the revolution, as portrayed in this novel?

5. Despite Marguerite’s best efforts, her daughter Jasmin commits some serious follies that have lasting repercussions–and the cycle continues with her granddaughter Violette. What do you think of this portrayal of parenthood? Is it realistic? Consider Jasmin’s comments to Violette on the subject on page 436. Do you find her words to be true in the context of the novel? In your own life?

6. Consider the means by which the women in this novel gain a measure of control over their destinies, despite the restrictions of the day. How does each take a hand in her own fate? What allows these women to survive and even thrive despite the odds that are against them?

7. Discuss the theme of predestination in To Dance with Kings. Where do you see events that seem to be controled by fate–or some force outside the characters themselves? What do you think the author is attempting to illuminate with this device? How does fate play a role in each woman’s life?

8. At what point does the power balance between Jasmin and Sabatin shift in her favor? What do you see as the turning point?

9. 1.After running away, Violette lays out her feelings on life and love for Leonard Vanneau (page 401):
I’m entirely my own person. People have talked to me, ordered me about, lavished gifts on me, and thought always to mould me into a domestic creature to be wife to some man of their choice. I’ve always wanted more than that. Even when my mother spoke to me of a good marriage I knew it would be a kind of imprisonment. Oh, no! I want freedom. Not bonds to tie me for the rest of my life.
What do you think has created this fiercely independent young girl? Why is she so intent on never being tied down? What do you think of the choices she subsequently makes? In the end, what is your opinion of Violette?

10. What do you make of the character of Marie Antoinette as portrayed in To Dance with Kings? How is her life both similar to and different from the bourgoisie and high-born women we see? How does Rosalind Laker’s portrayal of the queen compare to the view of her that you are familiar with?

11. Throughout this novel, we see many loves, both fleeting and true. What is the nature of love at court and outside? Is there a difference? What can two people reasonably expect from each other in this world? How does this compare to modern expectations of a partner?

12. When the Englishman Richard first appears, did you recognize him as the great-grandson of Augustin Roussier? When did you first guess his lineage?

13. Perhaps the most prominent character in this novel is the Palace of Versailles itself. What role does Versailles play in the lives of the characters we see, high-born, common, kings, and servants? What is the meaning of the palace to each of them, and what does it represent for you as a reader?

14. Of all the women whose lives are portrayed in To Dance with Kings, who do you most identify with as a reader? Who were you rooting for? Whose experience left the greatest impression on you and what was it that drew you to her?