WHAT THE LADY WANTS

Renée Rosen is the author of Dollface and the young adult novel, Every Crooked Pot. She lives in Chicago where she is at work on a new novel.

“Rosen skillfully charms, fascinates, frustrates, and moves her readers in this turn of the century tale. Set on an epic historical stage, What the Lady Wants contains all of the hedonism, decadence, success, and tragedy of the great American novel.”— Erika Robuck, national bestselling author of Fallen Beauty

“What the Lady Wants is a story that opens with the Great Chicago Fire and keeps on smoldering to the end. Rosen’s characters are finely-drawn, and her love triangles are full of subtlety and sincerity. What the lady indeed wants may not be what you assume it to be!”—Suzanne Rindell, author of The Other Typist

“Once again, Renee Rosen brings Chicago history alive in this fascinating story of Delia Spencer, trapped in a sexless marriage while desperately desired by a man she can’t have – the arrogant, powerful department store mogul Marshall Field. A tale of tangled relationships and dubious morality, What the Lady Wants is captivating with a surprisingly contemporary twist.”—Stephanie Lehmann, author of Astor Place Vintage

“What the Lady Wants is as fun and addictive and Chicago-licious as a box of Marshall Field’s Frango Mints. And, sadly, you’ll finish it almost as fast. A delight.”—Rebecca Makkai, author of The Hundred Year House

Do you find it acceptable that Marshall and Delia pursued their love affair? Or do you think they were wrong for going outside their marriages? In other words, is adultery ever justified?

There’s a twenty year age difference between the Delia and Marshall. How do you account for Delia’s attraction to him? Was it his money? His power? Or was it something else? Do you think relationships between older men and younger women were more common in the late 19th century than they are now?

Delia’s greatest desire was to be a mother and at one point she sets out to have a child with Marsh that she, Marsh and Arthur will go on to raise. Had she not lost the baby, how do you think this arrangement would have worked out? What do you think Nannie’s reaction would have been? What about Arthur’s parents? Do you think the children she “had” by the end of the book ultimately fulfilled her desire for motherhood?

What do you think about how Delia handled her critics who spread rumors and blackballed her from high society? What should she have done differently, if anything? What do you think of the different reactions society had to Delia versus Marsh?

During the late 1800s a woman could not easily seek a divorce and so Delia chose to stay with Arthur. Do you think she did that solely out of obligation or out of genuine love and friendship? What would you have done if put in the same situation?

Loyalty is a big theme in this book. Delia is certainly loyal to Arthur and Marshall, but can you site other examples in the book? Do you think this is a strength or weakness of hers? Can you think of an instance or instances where you disagree with Delia’s sense of devotion?

Delia and Marshall Field were part of a very elite social group known as the Prairie Avenue set. Did you find their sense of privilege more enchanting or annoying? What parts did you especially like? What parts did you not like?

Had you been alive during the Great Chicago Fire, would you have stayed and helped rebuilt the city, or would you have moved on and possibly returned after the city had come back?

The Haymarket Riots, which pitted the labor organizers against the capitalists and resulted in a deadly riot, marked a very pivotal time in our nation’s history. Delia was clearly opposed to Marshall’s decision to execute the accused men. Do you think she should have left him over this? How could she defend him to others when she was so strongly opposed to his position? Was this another case of loyalty and do you think she should she have stood by him?

Delia has a very definite opinion of what makes a man a man. Do you think this is based upon her father? And how do you think her relationship with her father factors into her relationship with Marshall and how does it impact her feelings toward Arthur?

How do you think department stores and retail in general has changed since the early days of Marshall Field & Company? What do you think would have been the best part of shopping in those days? Would you trade the convenience of online shopping for the charm and service offered at a store like Marshall Field & Company?