I Capture the Castle

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Rose explicitly compares the Cotton brothers’ arrival to the opening of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, where Mrs. Bennet becomes excited about eligible bachelors moving to the neighborhood. What similarities and differences do you notice between Smith’s approach to the marriage plot and Austen’s? Does I Capture the Castle feel more like a traditional romance or something entirely different?

2. Cassandra’s journal format allows you to experience her thoughts and growth in real time. Did this narrative structure make you feel more connected to her journey than a traditional third-person narration might have? What moments felt most authentic in her voice?

3. The novel ends with Cassandra choosing her writing career over marriage to Simon, despite loving him deeply. Did you find this resolution satisfying, or did you want a different outcome for her romantic life?

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

1. Rose admits she plans to marry Simon for financial security rather than love, saying she’d rather be miserable in comfort than poor. Have you ever faced a similar choice between practical security and following your heart? How do you weigh such decisions?

2. Cassandra ultimately refuses Simon’s proposal to focus on her writing career, choosing artistic fulfillment over romantic happiness. What dreams or goals have you prioritized over relationships, or vice versa?

3. The Mortmain family struggles with James’s inability to write while the rest of them work to support his artistic pursuits. How do you balance the pursuit of creative ambitions with practical needs? What sacrifices feel worth making for art?

4. Stephen faces class barriers despite his genuine feelings for Cassandra, and she struggles with how to handle his affection honestly. How do differences in background, education, or social status affect relationships in your experience?

5. Writing in her journal helps Cassandra discover both her voice as an author and a clearer understanding of her family dynamics. Do you keep a journal or engage in regular self-reflection? What insights about yourself have emerged through writing or other creative practices?

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Published in 1948, the novel captures England’s transition between traditional gender roles and emerging feminist ideals. Which character’s approach to womanhood feels more familiar to contemporary readers: Rose’s focus on marriage and material security, or Cassandra’s career ambitions?

2. The stark class differences between the working-class Stephen and the landed Mortmains, despite their poverty, reflect England’s rigid social hierarchy. How do these class distinctions compare to social and economic divisions you observe today?

3. Simon and Neil bring American perspectives to traditional English society, with Simon romanticizing English history while Neil prefers American frontier life. What does their presence reveal about cultural differences between America and England in the mid-20th century?

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

1. Both Cassandra and her father James struggle with their writing, but their breakthrough moments connect their different artistic approaches. What does their relationship suggest about how creativity can be nurtured across generations? How does Cassandra’s realistic journal style complement her father’s experimental modernism?

2. Godsend Castle combines historic architecture with modern living spaces, creating a physical representation of the novel’s themes. How does this setting reinforce the tension between tradition and progress that runs throughout the story?

3. Rose and Cassandra represent two very different models of femininity, with Rose embodying a traditional marriage plot and Cassandra emerging as a more modern, independent woman. How does Smith use their contrasting personalities to explore changing social expectations for women?

4. Cassandra notes early in her journal that “the truth seems to flow out as fast as I can get it down” (26) when writing about real events versus fiction. What role does honesty play in her character development? How does her commitment to truthful writing shape both her relationships and her artistic growth?

5. Like other coming-of-age novels such as Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, this story follows a young woman discovering her identity and place in the world. What elements make Cassandra’s bildungsroman feel distinctly modern compared to Victorian examples of the genre?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’re tasked with renovating Godsend Castle to better reflect the family’s personalities and needs. Which rooms would you prioritize, and how would you balance preserving its historic character with creating a more livable modern home? Draw a sketch of your ideas.

2. The novel ends with several characters embarking on new chapters: Rose and Neil in America, Stephen pursuing acting, Cassandra beginning her writing career. Write an alternative ending where Cassandra makes different choices about Simon’s proposal and her career plans.

3. Stephen’s perspective on the Mortmain family dynamics would offer a fascinating contrast to Cassandra’s journal entries. Rewrite a key scene from his point of view. Which moment would you choose, and what hidden thoughts or feelings might you reveal?

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