The Marriage Portrait

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Do you typically enjoy reading historical fiction? If so, do any specific time periods or locations typically interest you? Have you read other works of literature set in an era akin to The Marriage Portrait (Renaissance Europe, or Italy more specifically)?
• In addition to being inspired by a historical figure, O’Farrell drew on a 19th-century poem, My Last Duchess by Robert Browning. Read the poem and consider why it might have intrigued O’Farrell. How does she modify or challenge the characters and events that Browning depicts in his poem?
• The novel begins with a historical note that explains that Lucrezia died less than a year after her marriage and that her husband was widely suspected of having murdered her. How did the presence of this information at the start of the novel shape your expectations and engagement with the plot? Did it enhance or diminish suspense?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Many of Lucrezia’s childhood memories (such as the incident with the tiger) are depicted as vivid and formative for her. When you think back to your childhood, which memories are most evocative for you? Do the memories that stand out surprise you, and do you think they reflect any aspects of your personality?
• Initially, Alfonso is betrothed to Lucrezia’s sister, Maria.