The House on the Strand*
by Daphne Du Maurier
- Being the straight-laced man that he was, why did Dick try Magnus’ drug in the first place?
- Was Dick simply hallucinating or was he actually traveling back in time? Why did Magnus travel back to the same time period?
- What was Dick’s relationship with Roger? Was there an actual connection between Dick’s present and the people he encountered in the 12th century? What was Magnus’ connection with the people in the 12th century? Was there a connection between the monks making potions in the past and Magnus making potions in the present?
- Why did Dick get off scott free during the inquiry into Magnus’ death? Why did Willis back up Dick’s story about Magnus being interested in the climate?
- The ending is rather abrupt and open-ended. What happened?
- Why didn’t Dick tell Vita about the drug, especially after she became suspicious of him having an affair and acting so erratically?
- What was the significance of the monkey dying after drinking potion B?
- When Vita’s friends Bill and Diana come to visit, the story veers toward them “partner-swapping.” Why was this put in the book?
- Did Dick become addicted to the drug, or to the story he was witnessing in the past?
- This book was written over 35 years ago. Is the subject still topical? Did anyone have trouble initially getting into the book?
- How do Du Maurier’s descriptions deepen and reinforce the themes in the novel?
*Questions written by Mount Prospect Public Library Staff
Published 1969
