The Lioness of Boston

Isabel­la is reject­ed ear­ly in her Boston life. How does this rejec­tion influ­ence her char­ac­ter? Are there ways this rejec­tion helps her?

What draws Isabel­la to Jack? What traits does she have that he finds com­pelling do you think? How does their mar­riage change dur­ing the course of the book?

What is Isabel­la look­ing for in a friend? Do you think she finds it? How would you describe her cir­cle of friends by the end of the novel?

How does the tragedy Isabel­la expe­ri­ences influ­ence her lat­er life decisions?

Scan­dal seems unavoid­able for Isabel­la — do you think it finds her or she finds it?

Isabel­la isn’t an artist, yet she does have an artis­tic vision. How do you see this vision through­out the book, pri­or to the open­ing of the museum?

Though this nov­el starts in 1861 and clos­es in 1903 with the open­ing of the muse­um, there are many issues dis­cussed that still are rel­e­vant today. Dis­cuss these themes (misog­y­ny, racism, cliquish­ness, etc.).

Is there a scene that res­onat­ed for you per­son­al­ly? If so, why? Are you com­fort­able shar­ing this with the group?

What did you learn about Boston his­to­ry or world his­to­ry that you did not know pri­or to read­ing this novel?

Isabel­la says that we col­lect all that we are. Is there an object in your own home that tells a sto­ry about you? Or a collection?

Who — or what — is Isabella’s great­est love?

How does Isabella’s old­er voice look­ing back dif­fer from the voice in book 1 – 4?

What sto­ry ele­ments sur­prised you?

Isabel­la was the first woman to open a muse­um in the Unit­ed States. She decid­ed in her will to state that noth­ing be moved. Why?

Were you com­pelled to look up any works of art or details from the nov­el? If so, which ones and why?

Why do you think The Lioness of Boston is the title of this novel?