Wifedom: Mrs. Orwell's Invisible Life

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How did you feel about the blend of genres in Wifedom, combining biography, fiction, and literary scholarship? Did you find this approach effective in telling Eileen Blair’s story? Why or why not?
• Did Funder’s approach to writing fiction about real events feel respectful and authentic to you? Why or why not? How did these fictionalized scenes contribute to your understanding of Eileen’s character?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

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

• Eileen’s domestic labor for Orwell is extensive and undervalued, and Funder highlights the emotional toll this can have. Likewise, her influence on Orwell’s work is undeniable, yet she remains largely invisible in the literary world. Can you relate to the feeling of having your work go unappreciated? How did the novel resonate with your own experiences of invisible labor? 
• Eileen and Orwell’s relationship was marked by love but also deep challenges, such as infidelity and neglect. What did you think of the complexities in their marriage? Did any moments remind you of relationships you have observed or experienced?
• How did you feel about Eileen and Orwell’s decision to have a child, given that both were experiencing serious health issues at the time? Does it matter that the child was adopted rather than conceived by the couple themselves? 
• The concept of “the schism between writer and person” is central to the book.