The Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova

Characters
Current time	Late 1800s
Robert Oliver – painter and teacher Kate – wife Ingrid and Oscar – children Mary Bertison – painter and student Marlow – Psychiatrist and painter Pedro Calliet Henri Robinson	Beatrice de Clerval Yves Father-in-law Aude – daughter Marie Riviere – Beatrice’s pseudonym Olivier Vignot – Yves uncle Helene – wife – killed in uprising in France Gilbert Thomas - painter Armand Thomas

For discussion:

NOTE:  The page numbers refer to the Bay Back Books paperback edition.

1.            Discuss the various characters, their personalities and their motivations.  Who was most sympathetic?  Least?

2.            Discuss having your own space.  When Robert was living with Kate he had an office and a studio while Kate did not have any space of her own.  How important is your space?

3.            Why did Robert’s paintings have such an effect on Marlow?

4.            Why did Robert continuously paint Beatrice?  Was that a sign of his mental illness?  What did you think about the painting where all three women (Kate, Mary and Beatrice) were painted in the background and Robert was in the foreground?

5.            Consider Robert’s painting of Beatrice holding an older woman who had been shot.  (page 423)  Do you think this was a depiction of Beatrice’s dream of Oliver’s wife?  How can you explain this?

6.            Discuss Robert and Mary’s correspondence through regular mail.  She stated that “…a plain old paper letter takes on amazing intimacy.”  Do you agree?  Do you think regular mail will survive?

7.            What were the signs of Robert’s mental illness?  Do you think he was truly “cured” at the end?

8.            Do you think Marlow acted responsibly when he went to talk with Kate and Mary?  What were the reasons behind his actions?

9.            Discuss Robert reading detective novels continuously while he was hospitalized.    Marlow’s father said that Robert was doing penance for something.  Do you agree?  (pages 314 and 322)

10.          Discuss the author’s definition of mental illness.  On page 302 she wrote, “It was not illness to let another person – or a belief, or a place – take over your heart.  But if you gave away your mind to one of those things, relinquished your ability to make decisions, it would, in the end, render you sick…”

11.          Who was Aude’s father?

12.          Discuss your reading experience.  When did you realize who Beatrice was?  Were you able to keep the characters straight?  Were you ever confused?  What was the most satisfying part of the reading experience for you?