Discuss the author’s engagement with the French colonial occupation of Algeria. Examine her decision to focus on the impact of colonialism on French colonial subjects rather than the indigenous Muslims of Algeria. Why might she have made this decision? Build an argument, using textual evidence.

How does the novel engage with gender and the changing nature of gender roles during the 20th century? What beliefs, values, and ideas shape the novel’s characters, and how do these influence their relationships and career paths?

How does the novel depict marriage? What kinds of relationships do the various Cassars have, and what broader argument about the nature of romance, commitment, and long-term relationships might the author be making?