Woman on Fire

Why is it so important for Ellis to find the painting of his mother? Why doesn’t he try to find it earlier?

Compare and contrast Jules Roth and Margaux de Laurent. In which ways are they similar? How do they differ?

Heritage and family history are driving forces in the novel. How do each of the main characters relate to their families? What role do their family relationships play in their character arcs?

Several of the primary male characters in the novel are recovering from substance use disorders. What message does the novel convey about high-achieving males and substance misuse or addiction?

Each main character has a tie to Judaism. Is their Jewish heritage relevant to their quest to recover Nazi-stolen art? Why or why not?

Which character has the strongest claim to the original Woman on Fire painting? Explain your reasoning using evidence from the text.

At the end of the novel, why is it significant that Ellis is unable to physically view Woman on Fire? What does this have to say about memory and reality?

Helmuth and Carl Geisler are based on the real-life figures of Hildebrand and Cornelius Gurlitt. Compare and contrast the Geislers and the Gurlitts. How does the role of the German government differ in the discovery of the Gurlitt collection and the Geisler one in the novel?