- Who were your favorite characters? Why?
- What did you think about Queen Ethelburga? How much control did she have over her own life?
- What did you think of Bishop Paulinus? How much influence did he have on King Edwin’s decision to convert?
- King Edwin made a huge decision when he converted to the Christian church. Why would he do such a thing? Do you think he believed the reason he survived an attempted assassination was because he wore the tunic Pope Boniface sent him?
- After King Edwin died, his family fled to Kent. What impact did this experience have on Princess Enfleda and Princess Hildeburg?
- Do you agree with Ethelberga’s decision to pressure her daughter Enfleda into a marriage with King Oswy of Northumbria?
- Why did King Oswy want Princess Hildeburg to return to Northumbria?
- Why did Princess Hildeburg accept Aidan’s offer to return to Northumbria and become an abbess? Do you think she made the right decision?
- Do you think Queen Enfleda was happy with her marriage? Why was she pleased when her husband gave her daughter, Princess Elfleda, to the church?
- What do you think of Bishop Wilfrid? How would you compare him to Bishop Paulinus?
- Why did Wilfrid have so many conflicts with Northumbrian kings? Do you agree with Wilfrid’s position of trying to regain his diocese, or with the actions of the other bishops and the various kings?
- What did you think of Etheldreda of East Anglia? How would you compare her efforts to control her own life to those of Queen Ethelberga? Which woman is more appealing to you as a person?
- In the marital conflict between Queen Etheldreda and King Egfrid, did you find one character more sympathetic than the other?
- What did you think of King Oswy? Was he a “good” king?
- Do you think Oswy’s concern about whether the Columban or the Roman rite was correct was motivated more by political concerns or by religious scruples?
- What do you think was the main difference between the Columban and Roman rites? Was it an issue of style? Did they differ in their fundamental beliefs?
- In the debate between Bishop Wilfrid and Abbot Colman, who had the more persuasive argument?
- Queen Ermenburg is a minor character. The record says little about her, except that she was King Egfrid’s second wife and that she despised Bishop Wilfrid. I created a long-term relationship between Queen Ermenburg and King Egfrid. What do you think about her role in the story?
- Abbess Elfleda spent most of her life at Streoneshalh. Her relationships with churchmen and kings made her an important person in Northumbria. What sort of individual do you think Elfleda was?
- What sort of person was Bishop Cuthbert?
- What did you think of King Aldfrid? Why was he so angry with Bishop Wilfrid?
- Did Bishop Wilfrid get what he wanted? Did anyone?
- In the final pages, Abbess Elfleda remembers a conversation with Abbess Hildeburg many years before. Abbess Hildeburg credited Queen Ethelberga with King Edwin’s conversion and Queen Enfleda with King Oswy’s decision to follow the Roman rite. Do you agree? How much influence did these queens actually have?
- Bishop Trumwine calls Abbess Elfleda a “peacemaker.” Do you agree?
- Which woman was best able to exercise personal agency: Queen Ethelberga, Queen Enfleda, Abbess Hildeburg, Queen Etheldreda, or Abbess Elfleda? Why?