1. When Ross arrives home after years of fighting in America, he discovers that Elizabeth, the woman he loved, was engaged to marry his cousin Francis. This causes several confrontations, most notably the argument that Ross and Francis have down in the mine that nearly results in Francis drowning. Ross says that the incident had shown not only the extent of his anger, but its limitations as well. Do you think that Francis realized this? What do you think Ross’s and Francis’s reactions to this incident say about each man?
2. When Ross first returns to Nampara, he finds Jud and Prudie drunk and the house and land in a terrible state of disrepair, yet he decides to keep Jud and Prudie on to bring the house back to working order. Does he keep them out of sentimentality or simply because it is easiest? How is he later rewarded by keeping rather lazy, but faithful, servants?
3. Ross seems to be more connected with the people who live on his land than many of the other members of his class are. Do you believe this is because of the way of life he saw in America, or is he inherently different from his peers?
4. Verity becomes romantically attached to Captain Blamey who, it is discovered, has a history of alcoholism and was involved with the death of his first wife. Verity claims that he is reformed, that he no longer drinks and would not hurt her. Do you believe this is true? Are people capable of changing so drastically? Verity’s relatives are violently opposed to the match. If you were in their position, would you be comfortable letting your child/sister marry a man in that situation?
5. Verity and Captain Blamey’s romance ends abruptly after the duel between Captain Blamey and Francis. Demelza later tells Ross that this was at least partly his fault. Do you agree that Ross should have done something to prevent the duel? Did he allow the duel to occur because he didn’t approve of the match, or was there another reason?
6. Once Demelza grows into a young woman, rumors intensify that Ross is keeping her as a kitchen wench for his own lascivious purposes. He chooses to ignore the rumors and seems to take it all fairly well, believing that the people who matter to him will know they are not true. How would you deal with unfounded but pervasive rumors about yourself? About someone you love?
7. Not long after Elizabeth gives birth to Geoffrey Charles, Francis wants to be intimate but is rebuffed. “There was no one to tell him that he was wrong in being jealous of Ross. There was no one to tell him that another and more powerful rival had arisen. There was no one to warn him about Geoffrey Charles.” Do you believe it is Geoffrey Charles, or Francis being jealous of Ross, that drives Francis and Elizabeth apart?
8. Demelza is at first very nervous about meeting Verity and begs Ross not to invite her to the house. After a few days the two women bond and become fast friends. In what ways does Verity influence Demelza? In what ways does Demelza influence Verity?
9. At the Christmas party, Demelza surprises Ross by successfully navigating the social challenges of the evening. By the end of the night many people have changed their opinions of Demelza, and Demelza has changed her opinions of some people as well, particularly Elizabeth. Where she used to be intimidated and jealous of Elizabeth, she comes to feel sorry for her. Does Elizabeth deserve Demelza’s pity? Have you ever been jealous of someone, but after getting to know them, discovered they were not as intimidating as they seemed?
10. Do you think that Ross and Demelza’s marriage has a better chance of surviving than Francis and Elizabeth’s, despite the differences in their social class and backgrounds?