Smoke in the Cypress

A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars must travel from revolution-torn France to Louisiana to rescue a young noblewoman, but he is quickly ensnared in a complex web of political intrigue and violence in this thrilling historical fiction adventure.

As the War of 1812 rages across early 19th-century America, Marcel Moreau, wounded in service with Napoleon's Grand Armée, must journey to New Orleans to find Celeste de Beaumais, a young aristocrat who has fled the aftermath of the French Revolution and has settled herself on a sprawling Louisiana plantation. Standing in Moreau's way are various factions in and around the historic French Quarter—soldiers, slave hunters, marooned slaves, and Jean Lafitte's notorious Baratarian pirates—all of whom have their own interests and enemies. As he ventures deeper into the city and the vast cypress swamps beyond, encountering elements of Creole culture and Louisiana voodoo, Moreau will find that circumstances are much more complex—and dangerous—than he could have imagined.

Meanwhile, a massive English fleet appears on the horizon, causing panic in the city and desperation from the outgunned and outnumbered Louisiana militia. Hoping to benefit from his years of military experience with Napoleon's Grande Armée, these French-speaking Creole farmers and townsfolk, and their American allies, enlist Moreau to help train them for the coming battle of New Orleans. As he does what he can to help this motley resistance movement—led by General Andrew Jackson and bolstered by Jean Lafitte's Baratarians—Moreau soon comes up against another enemy. With the city's eyes on the battlefield, a ruthless plantation master plots his own designs. But those who've escaped his clutches have no plans to return to a life in chains and have formed their own resistance. Moreau must now decide where his experience and instincts must be put to the best use.

These discussion questions were provided by the publisher, the future of agency.

Book club questions for Smoke in the Cypress by Owen Pataki

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

In Chapter 1, Marcel Moreau presents himself as a man with a singular mission to retrieve Celeste de Beaumais. However, throughout Chapters 3-7, he repeatedly makes choices that complicate and distract him from this goal. What do you think drives him beyond his stated purpose?

Chapter 1 introduces us to the Baratarians, while Chapters 5-8 show different communities in 1814 Louisiana: the Creoles, free people of color, enslaved people, and maroons in Le Marais. How do these groups interact with and perceive each other throughout the book?

Throughout Chapters 1-13, we see different forms of authority and power. Compare and contrast the leadership styles of characters like Moreau (Chapters 4 and 14), Araza (Chapters 3 and 7), Giroux (Chapter 6), Jean Lafitte (Chapter 8), Diantha/Gran Ibo (Chapter 8), and General Jackson (Chapter 12).

In Chapter 6, we witness the brutal treatment of enslaved people at Le Mouton plantation. How does the novel portray the institution of slavery, particularly through the perspectives of different characters like Moreau, Antonia, and Emile Giroux? How does the novel portray the institution of slavery, particularly through the perspectives of characters like Diantha/Gran Ibo,
Neremiah, and Edward?

Celeste's letters to her mother reveal a different side to her character than what others perceive. What do these letters tell us about her true nature and motivations?

The novel is set against the backdrop of the War of 1812 and the impending Battle of New Orleans, which becomes increasingly apparent in Chapters 12-14. How does this historical context influence the characters' actions and decisions? How does this historical context influence the way characters interact with one another?

Several characters in the novel wear different masks or present false identities (Moreau/Lenoir in Chapters 1-6, Lafitte/"Phantom" in Chapter 8). Why does identity and knowing one’s identity hold power throughout the book?

In Chapters 3 and 7, Will Keane is rejected by his community for showing fear in battle, yet he continues to seek acceptance and purpose. What does his character reveal about notions of courage and belonging? Do you feel that Will Kean ultimately proves himself?

Consider the depiction of Le Marais (the maroon community) in Chapters 7-8. How does this society function compared to the plantations and New Orleans? What role does it play in the larger narrative?

The ruby is first mentioned in Chapter 5 and becomes an object of desire for multiple characters through Chapter 8. Which characters want the ruby, and why? Why does Moreau make it his mission to come into possession of the ruby at one point? What does the ruby symbolize within the story, and how does it drive the plot forward?

What does Will and Moreau’s relationship reveal about Moreau's character?

The book contains multiple perspectives on slavery and freedom via characters like Diantha, Nehemiah, Edward, and Giroux. How do these different viewpoints contribute to the novel's exploration of this complex historical reality?

Compare Moreau's leadership approach in Chapter 32 with other authority figures in the novel, like General Jackson, Plauché, Diantha, Winfield, and Giroux. What makes an effective leader in the circumstances portrayed in the book?

How does Pataki use the natural environment of Louisiana as both setting and metaphor throughout the book?

What role do the female characters (Diantha, Antonia, Elyse and Celeste) play in advancing the narrative? Are their portrayals historically convincing?

The battle scenes show both organized military engagements and guerrilla-style combat. How do these different forms of conflict reveal character and advance themes?

How does the author balance historical authenticity with modern sensibilities in portraying this period of American history?

Smoke in the Cypress Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Smoke in the Cypress discussion questions