The London Séance Society: A Novel

The London Séance Society is a deeply interior novel, with narration consisting largely of characters’ internal thoughts. Even so, Sarah Penner still crafts an immersive version of Victorian London. How does Penner use her characters’ perspectives to open a window to this historical time period?

Penner slowly reveals the truth of Morely’s nature, a trend that culminates in Morely’s confession of his wrongdoing in Chapter 19. How does Penner foreshadow Morely’s malfeasance? Examine at least three such instances and analyze the overall effect of these key details on the development of the plot.

Both Vaudeline and Morely have significant marks on their skin—Morely’s birthmark, and Vaudeline’s scar. Analyze the contrast between these characters’ attitudes toward their respective bodily markings. What do the marks connote for each character, and how does Penner use these differences to highlight each character’s approach to the world?