Introduction

New York Times bestselling author Angela Hunt, renowned for her biblical fiction, endows Esther with new life and passion in this dramatic and emotional portrayal.

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Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

1. Angela Hunt has said that she tries to invent as little as possible when writing about historical characters. Assuming that her historical sources are correct and much of this novel is based on actual facts, what surprised you about the story of this biblical heroine?

2. The biblical book of Esther tends to give us only the facts, a spare canvas on which the story plays out. Theologians and story tellers have interpreted the story in various ways, painting Esther either as a beautiful girl who won an ancient beauty pageant or as a girl who was taken by force and raped by a lascivious king. What was your impression of Esther before you read this book? What was your impression after reading this novel?

3. Many religious people, Jewish and Christian, have considered Esther an almost perfect person. Some rabbis believe that Esther was married to Mordecai, and remained righteous even though she had to sleep with the king because a heavenly being “filled in” for her when she had to perform her conjugal duty. Some Christians tend to think of Esther as almost without sin and completely heroic in her actions. But Esther was human, and some of her recorded actions—her insistence that Mordecai remove his sackcloth, for instance—seem to reveal a superficial mindset. Has this novel influenced your ideas and thoughts about Esther’s nature? About her actions?

4. Angela Hunt writes from a Christian perspective, and she has said that she sees parallels between her place in today’s American society and Esther’s place in Persian society. In one scene Esther ruminates about her world:

We walked in it, traded in it, communicated in it, and did acts of kindness for it. To the casual observer, we might have looked like ordinary people, but we were not. About that, at least, Haman was right. We were children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and we served an invisible God who remained close to us no matter where we lived. But our hearts did not—should not—belong to this world.

What parallels do you see between those two worlds?

5. Hunt chose to tell this story from only two character viewpoints: Hadassah’s and Harbonah’s. Do you think the story should have been told from another point of view? What other character would you like to hear from?

6. Is this story similar to other biblical historical fiction you have read? How was it similar or different? Do you prefer historical fiction or contemporary fiction? Why?

7. Hunt has said she never knowingly contradicts the biblical or historical record—unless historical records disagree, then she chooses the view she believes is the most logical. Prior to reading this book, have you read much about ancient Persia? Were you aware of how advanced their culture was? In what ways is ancient Persia similar to the United States?

8. What lessons or ideas will you take away from this book? If you read the biblical book of Esther again, how will the story be different for you?

9. Who was your favorite character? Who was your least favorite?

10. Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

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