Here are some questions provided by Matthew Harffy, the author himself, to engage with the content of Wolf of Wessex! Let us know your thoughts here or on the Discord!
1. The novel’s chapters alternate between the point of view of Dunston and Aedwen. Who do you think is the true protagonist, or are they both jointly main characters?
2. Dunston often finds himself forced into brutal situations, leading him to break the vow he made to his late wife to turn his back on violence. How consistent is his personal moral code, and where do you see it tested—or compromised—most strongly?
3. The novel portrays violence as a frequently unavoidable part of life in 9th-century England. Do you feel the book presents violence as glorified, necessary, or tragic—or a mixture of all three?
4. How effectively did the novel immerse you in Anglo-Saxon England? What particular details, scenes, or customs made the setting feel especially vivid or authentic?
5. To what extent do you think Dunston’s life is shaped by fate, and to what extent by his own decisions? Are there moments in the story where a single different choice could have changed everything?
6. Several characters seek justice through personal vengeance rather than the law. How does the novel challenge or endorse that idea, and what consequences are there to such actions?
7. By the end of the novel both Aedwen and Dunston have been transformed by their experiences. Which of them has undergone the largest changes in your opinion?
8. How satisfying did you find the novel’s ending? Were there story lines or character arcs you felt were missing from the conclusion?
