A Ladder to the Sky

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Let’s start with our central character, Maurice Swift. What was your experience reading from the perspective of such a ruthless antihero? Did you find him compelling, repulsive, or a bit of both, and what aspects of his character kept you turning the pages?

2. How did Maurice Swift’s character call to mind other charming but problematic characters in literature, such as Tom Ripley in Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley? In what ways does Maurice’s ambition as a “literary climber” make his form of predation unique or perhaps even more unsettling than physical violence?

3. Think about the novel’s final scene, with Maurice unrepentant in prison and already stealing another story. Did you find this ending satisfying or frustrating? What does this conclusion suggest about the nature of ambition and the systems that reward it?

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

1. The Corrupting Nature of Unchecked Ambition drives the entire plot. Thinking about your own professional or personal goals, where is the line between a healthy, motivating drive and an ambition that could become harmful to yourself or others?

2. Erich advises Maurice to find a powerful story and “make it your own” (22), advice Maurice takes to a monstrous extreme. How do you feel about the idea of “owning” a story, especially personal ones shared between friends or family? Have you ever felt that a story you told was reshaped or retold by someone else in a way that made you uncomfortable?

3. The book is filled with “predatory mentorships,” where guidance is a disguise for exploitation. Looking at your own life, what do you believe are the key ingredients for a healthy, supportive mentorship? What warning signs might indicate a relationship is becoming one-sided or manipulative?

4. Maurice’s central flaw as a writer is his inability to invent original plots. Have you ever faced a creative block in any part of your life, whether in writing, art, work, or even problem-solving? How did you approach that challenge, and how does your experience contrast with Maurice’s destructive solution?

5. Characters like Erich Ackermann and Dash Hardy are manipulated partly because of their loneliness and their desire for validation from Maurice. Think of people you know who have expressed vulnerability at different points in their life. From your experience, what forms of validation do people seek from others, and why?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. After Erich’s past is exposed, the committee for “The Prize” argues that his book should be judged separately from his moral failings. How do you feel about this debate? In our current culture, do you think it’s possible or even desirable to separate an artist’s work from their private life?

2. Erich’s character is profoundly shaped by the persecution of gay men in Nazi Germany. How does the novel use this historical context to explore the long-lasting psychological trauma of state-sanctioned repression? How does his experience of shame and secrecy contrast with the lives of other gay characters like Dash Hardy and Gore Vidal?

3. In the end, Maurice achieves a new level of fame not for his talent but for the infamy of his crimes. What commentary does this offer on our contemporary celebrity culture, where notoriety and scandal can often generate as much attention as genuine achievement?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Why do you think Boyne chose to tell this story through a fragmented structure, shifting between the first-person accounts of Erich, Edith, and finally Maurice himself? How did hearing from Maurice’s victims first shape your understanding of him before you were allowed inside his mind?

2. What is the significance of the novel’s title, A Ladder to the Sky? How does this symbol of a relentless climb appear throughout the story, and what does the novel ultimately say about the “sky” Maurice is trying to reach?

3. Is Maurice a dynamic character who changes over the course of the novel, or a static one who simply reveals more of his true nature? Do you believe he experiences any genuine internal conflict, or is his entire being organized around his ambition?

4. The interlude featuring the real-life author Gore Vidal provides a uniquely sharp assessment of Maurice. What is the function of this section in the novel? How does Vidal’s judgment of Maurice as a fellow predator in the literary “jungle” color your perception of the book’s world?

5. Boyne masterfully uses small details to build suspense, such as the broken handrail on the stairs and the recurring warmth of Edith’s computer. What other instances of foreshadowing did you notice, and how did they contribute to the sense of dread as Edith’s story unfolded?

6. The novel’s ending is cyclical, with Maurice poised to repeat his crimes even from behind bars. What is the effect of this unrepentant conclusion? Does it provide a form of poetic justice, or does it offer a more cynical message about the persistence of evil?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine a new section of the novel told from the perspective of Maurice’s son, Daniel, in the weeks leading up to his death. What might his narrative reveal about his father’s behavior at home and the dawning horror of discovering his family’s secrets?

2. Toward the end of the novel, Theo Field writes an explosive exposé based on Maurice’s confession. If you were to write the book jacket copy for Theo’s biography, what would it say? How would you entice readers and convey the dramatic story of how he brought a literary monster to justice?

3. If you were casting a film adaptation of A Ladder to the Sky, which actors would you choose to play Maurice Swift, Erich Ackermann, and Edith Camberley? What specific qualities would make them perfect for capturing the essence of these complex characters?