The Great Stink by Clare Clark

ISBN:9780156030885

About the book:
Clare Clarks critically acclaimed The Great Stink reeks of talent (The
Washington Post Book World) as it vividly brings to life the dark and mysterious
underworld of Victorian London. Set in 1855, it tells the story of William May,
an engineer who has returned home to London from the horrors of the
Crimean War. When he secures a job transforming the citys sewer system, he
believes that he will be able to find salvation in the subterranean world
beneath the city. But the peace of the tunnels is shattered by a murder, and
William is implicated as the killer. Could he truly have committed the crime?
How will he bring the truth above-ground?

With richly atmospheric prose, The Great Stink combines fact and fiction to transport readers into
Londons putrid past, and marks the debut of a remarkably talented writer in the tradition of the very
best historical novelists.
About the author:
Clare Clark lives in London. The Great Stink is her first novel.
Questions and Topics for Discussion
1. How were you affected by the novels underground setting? Besides the sewers of London, what
other "underground" worlds exist in The Great Stink?
2. What enables Robert Rawlinson to act with compassion toward William, while so many others treat
him harshly? What were your first impressions of William, particularly as the story of his survival at
Balaclava unfolded?
3. In what way did the novels shifting points of view enhance the suspense? What were your images of
the narrator in the chapters that depicted Tom?
4. What did you discover about the Crimean War through this novel? How does it compare to current
conflicts in the regions affected by that war?
5. In chapter 11, William passes his psychiatric examination, though he is confined to an asylum soon
after. What criteria were used in attempting to diagnose his mental illness? How might the Victorians
have perceived twenty-first-century approaches to psychiatric disorders? As a war veteran suffering
from post-traumatic stress, how would William have fared in the modern world?
6. Williams recommendation to use more durable (though more expensive) bricks leads him to a
dangerous crossroads between the private and public sectors. Is the level of corruption portrayed in The
Great Stink a relic of history or is it still present today?
7. What does Williams self-mutilation indicate about the nature of his mental anguish? How does his
particular compulsion reflect his experiences and his view of himself?
8. Is Polly a sympathetic character throughout the novel? How would you have responded to William
had you been in her situation? Do you predict that she will be able to recapture the intensive love and
tenderness she once bestowed on him? Was it unreasonable for her to focus so heavily on her
husbands earning potential?
9. Tom is clearly an opportunist, though his approach to life is related to his poverty and illiteracy.
Should we make a distinction between his choice of money over morality and the same choice made by
Mr. Hawke?
10. Why did Mr. Hawke go to such lengths to buy Lady? Is he simply betting on her ability to win, or does
he realize how losing her will affect Tom personally? What does Mr. Hawkes presence at the Badger,
and his interest in the ratter competitions, tell us about him? Were you surprised by the true identity of
the Captain and Mr. Hawke?
11. When you first read the scene in chapter 11 in which Mr. England threatens William, followed by the
chilling events in the tunnel, did you think William was capable of murder? At what point was he
exonerated in your mind?
12. What motivated the inexperienced Mr. Rose to risk so much in exchange for his clients freedom?
Was he naive or shrewd?
13. Did Mr. Hawke deserve the death penalty? Did he deserve the prison-ship treatment he surely
received once he traded places with William? In your opinion, what has spurred Western penal reforms
over the past century?
14. Discuss the role of botany in the novel, through the plants William uses as a soothing litany. Why
does Polly resist the promise of fresh air and a job that suits Williams true calling in the books final
paragraphs?
15. How does this novel complement the other London literature you have read? What makes this citys
underbelly so compelling?
Praise for The Great Stink:
"Dickens fans should devour Clarks novel, a gripping and richly atmospheric glimpse into Victorian
England. . . . In the same league as Palliser."-Publishers Weekly
"Excrement happens in this impressively researched first novel, which earned its London author an
Orange Fiction Prize nomination . . . Very worth reading."-Kirkus Reviews
"Clare Clark writes with the eyes of a historian and the soul of a novelist."-Amanda Foreman, author of
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire