The Paris Architect

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence, religious discrimination and death

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel opens with a scene of casual violence that sets the tone for life in occupied Paris. What was your initial reaction to this opening, and how did it prepare you for the moral complexity that follows throughout the story?

2. In what ways does The Paris Architect challenge your understanding of human nature during wartime? Have you read other novels set during WWII that explore similar moral ambiguities, such as Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See?

3. Lucien’s transformation from a self-serving architect to someone willing to risk his life for others drives the story forward. At what point did you believe his change was genuine rather than merely self-serving?

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

1. Lucien initially designs hiding places for money and professional advancement, but his motivations evolve throughout the novel. When in your life have your reasons for doing something changed as you became more involved in a project or cause?

2. The novel portrays characters making difficult choices under extreme circumstances. Have you ever had to accept personal risk or sacrifice to help others?

3. The novel portrays Pierre’s determination to protect Lucien, even to the point of violence. Have you observed children showing extraordinary resilience or protective instincts in difficult situations? How might trauma shape a young person’s understanding of responsibility and protection?

4. Lucien finds an unexpected family with Pierre, Bette, and the children by the end of the novel. Has there been a time in your life when you formed meaningful connections with people who weren’t related to you by blood?

5. Throughout the book, characters like Manet and Father Jacques risk their lives to help Jewish people escape persecution. What motivates people to act altruistically in dangerous situations? Have you ever witnessed or experienced a similar kind of selflessness?

6. Many French citizens in the novel turn away from or ignore the injustices happening around them. Do you notice similar behavior in today’s society? When have you found it difficult to confront uncomfortable truths?

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

1. The novel explores how the Nazi occupation revealed both the worst and best in French society. How does this historical portrayal compare to what you previously knew about France during WWII? What parallels might we draw to how societies respond to threats today?

2. Anti-Semitism is depicted as commonplace in 1940s France, even among characters we might otherwise find sympathetic. How does the novel’s portrayal of casual prejudice help readers understand the social environment that enabled the Holocaust?

3. How does the novel address the concept of collaboration versus resistance? In what ways does it complicate your understanding of what constitutes betrayal of one’s country during occupation?

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

1. What significance does Serrault’s handkerchief hold in the novel? How does this object transform from a physical reminder of guilt to something more complex as Lucien’s character evolves?

2. The hiding places Lucien designs serve as both literal spaces and metaphorical constructs. How do these architectural elements parallel Lucien’s internal journey and the themes of the novel?

3. Belfoure creates a stark contrast between Lucien’s two relationships with women. How do Adele and Bette represent different aspects of French society during the Occupation? What might the author be suggesting through these characterizations?

4. The novel frequently juxtaposes the civilized appreciation for art and architecture with brutal violence. How does Herzog’s love of beautiful buildings despite his role in the German military highlight the book’s exploration of the dichotomy of good and evil in human nature?

5. Pierre kills Alain to protect Lucien, proudly thinking that he has done his duty as a man. What commentary might the author be making about traditional notions of masculinity?

6. Belfoure employs multiple perspective shifts throughout the novel, allowing readers glimpses into various characters’ thoughts. What effect does this narrative approach have on your understanding of the novel’s moral complexities? Does it make you more sympathetic to characters like Herzog?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are Lucien ten years after the events of the novel. Write a letter to Herzog explaining how your life has unfolded and reflecting on your unlikely friendship during the Occupation.

2. If you could design a memorial to commemorate the “righteous among nations” like Manet and the cabinetmaker Aubert, what architectural elements would you include to honor their courage?

3. The novel concludes with Lucien and his found family escaping to safety. Create an alternative ending where Lucien decides to stay in France and join the Resistance. How might his architectural skills have been utilized differently?

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