A Prisoner of Versailles

Reading Guides

Reading Group Guide

1. It is a matter of history that King Louis XIV literally sent spies into Switzerland to ferret out the Huguenots who had fled there to escape religious persecution. What would you have done if you had sought refuge from the tyranny of religious persecution and you knew that soldiers could arrest you at any moment and take you back? Would you give up, hide, flee to another country?
   
   
2. Madeleine and her family had financial reserves. But what if you had no means to flee any farther? What would you do?
   
   
3. What were your thoughts concerning François’ death? Would you have given him the laudanum? Did that offend you?
   
   
4. Madeleine was forced to return to a place that put her in a confused and conflicted position. As a young girl, she loved Versailles and King Louis, but as an adult, she could see the seductive, subtle evil behind the lifestyle. Have you ever been in a position to return to a lifestyle that, though tempting, you knew would hold you prisoner and ultimately cause your demise? Perhaps it was a person or maybe even an addiction. What did you do? Did you give in? Did you flee? Did you return only to find what you remembered as glamorous and fun was now empty and hollow?
   
   
5. Look up 1 Corinthians 10:13. What does God promise to do for us when we are tempted? How did he make a way for Madeleine to escape?
   
   
6. Commander Paul Boveé turns out to be a hero of sorts. What were your feelings about that? Has there ever been anyone in your life that you started out disliking, but then eventually befriended?
   
   
7. What scene did you feel was the most tense? When Madeleine and Pierre try to escape from the musketeers? When Pierre reports to King Louis? When Pierre is thrown into prison? When Madeleine and Pierre and Philippe escape? When Commander Boveé is fighting the soldiers? Or some other scene? Why?
   
   
8. Have you ever been angry at God? Before you answer too quickly, every major character in scripture was offended by god: Moses, Abraham, David, even Jesus (“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”). At times they questioned God, asking why he hadn’t come to the rescue. And all except Jesus tried to work out their situations by their own schemes. Moses ran away into the desert to escape God’s call on his life; Abraham tried to “help” God out by having a child by his wife’s handmaiden instead of by Sarah, his wife; David had been anointed king, but had to run for his life for years, finally crying out to the Lord, “Wilt thou forget me forever?” Madeleine was offended that God had allowed her family to go through trial after trial; the oppressions were unending. She could not understand why God was not rescuing her from what seemed to be the destruction of her life. Could you relate to her? Would it have been so bad in the “honored” position of the king’s maîstresse en titre ?
   
   
9. Discuss the conclusion. Was it satisfying?
   
   

Thank you for reading A Prisoner of Versailles . The author loves hearing from her readers. Contact her through her web site www.goldenkeyesparsons.com or e-mail at gpar0719@aol.com.