Questions About The White Lady
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Jacqueline Winspear (Goodreads Author)
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Answered Questions (3)
Della
I'm sure riding, for Elinor, would have been like shooting firearms or parachute jumping. She would have listened to a few minutes instruction and the…moreI'm sure riding, for Elinor, would have been like shooting firearms or parachute jumping. She would have listened to a few minutes instruction and then been perfect on the very first try.(less)
This question contains spoilers...
(view spoiler)[Can someone explain the last few chapters? I am unclear why the Mackie dad let his son off the hook and I didn't really understand the whole blackmailing thing, that a tape of someone saying something happened would be enough to keep a policeman in your thrall. (hide spoiler)]
Kay Webb Harrison
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[John Mackie said that their gang had decided not to do the "job" that they would have needed Jim's explosives skills for.
The recording in the hands of the "right" authorities would have been enough to cause an investigation of Warren and Gordon-Williams. (hide spoiler)]
The recording in the hands of the "right" authorities would have been enough to cause an investigation of Warren and Gordon-Williams. (hide spoiler)]
Alysia
These book club questions were developed by Alysia Bucci for the DeVine Ladies Book Club of Midland Michigan in October 2025, because we could not fin…moreThese book club questions were developed by Alysia Bucci for the DeVine Ladies Book Club of Midland Michigan in October 2025, because we could not find book club questions for this book. I have tried my best to list all sources of ideas for these questions at the end of this post and offer these discussion questions available to other book clubs at no cost. If you have any comments, feel free to email me at jabc55@outlook.com
Book Club Questions: The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear
Author Information to share with the book club: (taken from the book cover and “Thoughts from a Page” Podcast):
Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the 18 book “Maisie Dobbs Series” including four New York Times bestsellers. She also wrote the standalone book “The Care and Management of Lies”, a Dayton Literary Peace Prize finalist and her current standalone book, “The White Lady”.
Jacqueline has also published two nonfiction books, “What Would Maisie Do?” and a memoir about her parents’ lives in England called, “This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing.”
Jacqueline Winspear was born and raised in the County of Kent in England, studied in the University of London’s Institute of Education and later worked in academic publishing and higher education and in marketing communications in the United Kingdom before emigrating to the United States. Jacqueline divides her time between California and the Pacific Northwest.
Book Club Questions:
1. This book starts with Elinor White’s life in 1947 England. Many who lived in England after World War II said “that the peace was worse than the war in terms of the deprivation in England.” What are some of the examples of this deprivation found in this book?
(possible answers---Food rationing, Gasoline rationing, the loss of soldiers and civilans killed during the war.)
Follow-up—How was everyone’s lives affected by the rationing of gasoline that in 1947, only allowed you to drive about 19 miles per month?
2. Elinor fought as a resistance fighter and assassin in Belgium in World War I, what caused her to consider joining in a similar role during World War II?
(possible answers----The death of her family in a bombing and her knowing that she had the skills that were so desperately needed.)
3. The author first got the idea of this book based on a childhood memory of a lady she met as a child who lived in a “grace and favor” home after her war service that included being parachuted into France during World War II. How does the war service of Elinor White change her? Why is living a quiet life so challenging for Elinor?
(possible answers----she is always looking at her surroundings, she sees poisonous mushrooms in basket and that the local butcher is cheating the scales (pages 8-11), she wears white in the winter, she is “patrolling” her property. She cannot shake her memories of killing people, including a small child)
4. According to the author’s family’s experiences, organized crime and black-market goods were rampant during World War II and the years after the war in England. What were the positives and negatives of this organized crime that she talks about in the book?
(possible answers---residents were able to get much needed food items and petrol, families felt protection from the crime families that the overwhelmed police could not provide. There was violence due to the prevalence of guns.)
5. During World War II, people were released from prison to either serve in the armed forces or work in in trades, such as forestry. Why was this done?
(possible answers---there was a big need for people willing to kill, there was a shortage of people to do forestry)
Follow up—what were the negatives to this decision that happened after the war? (possible answers---people had earned their freedom from prison sentences, but they were now very trained killers
6. World War II exposed people to danger and the adrenaline rush of killing. There were major adjustments for people after the war, when they no longer had that lifestyle. But for others, like Jim Mackie, the war gave them a chance to be around people who were different from their family background and start over in a more positive way. What were some of the positives for Jim Mackie?
(possible answers---met his wife, wanted to live a life of honesty and peace)
7. What surprised the author the most about writing this book was the emotional impact this book had on her writing about the effects of war on children. What are the effects of war on children that the author writes about in this book?
(possible answers---losing parents, starvation, growing up too soon, schools shutting down, being abused by soldiers that affects the rest of Cecily’s life, living with the fact you killed someone to protect yourself.)
8. When World War II broke out, millions of men left the workforce in Great Britain to enlist. Britain needed women to fill the roles left by men. In 1941, the National Service Act was passed that “drafted” women from ages 19 to 59 to work. They were interviewed and got to select jobs from a list of openings in both the military and civilian jobs. How did this change the lives of the characters in this book and all of these British women?
(possible answers---confidence that they could do much more than was expected of them, their own earnings, pressures to do a good job to help win the war.)
9. At the end of the book we learn of the betrayal of Elinor White by Steve Warren. Do people betray others because they are evil, or is it simply because of circumstances?
Follow-up: Do you think Steve would have ever told Elinor that she did not kill the little girl in Belgium, Anique?
10. Another character in this book is Jim Mackie’s Aunt, Elsie Finch. What did Elinor White and Elisie Mackie learn from each other? Do you think Elinor and Elisie might have become friends, if the circumstances of life were different?
(possible answers---Elinor learned how to relax and enjoy life while spending time with Elisie. Elisie found someone she could talk with. They both had unusual lives as women and great responsibilities. They were both underestimated frequently.)
11. The author says that “Home is where everyone deserves to be safe” (page 285). How does it affect people when their homes are not safe?
(possible answers---They commit crimes, they are emotionally damaged, they cannot trust others.)
12. Dr Wright says to Elinor that when he was a med student a professor said “Just remember that as the doctor, you are really only there to distract the patient while time and nature do the work of healing” (page 288.) Why do you think he said this to Elinor? Have you ever experienced this in your own life?
13. This book goes between 3 timelines: Belgium in World War I, England and Belgium in World War II, and post war England. How do you feel that this going back and forth was effective in telling this story? Or if it wasn’t, why not?
14. Near the end of the book (page 313), Claire Fields says to Elinor: “Linni, you have as many answers as you need or are likely to get. Don't ask for more. I learned in the Great War that there are many battles to be fought, and one of the biggest is with the veils that come down around us---with all due respect to that American author, you know, Mr. Steinbeck, I call them the 'drapes of wrath.” What does this statement mean for you?
(Possible answers----Sometimes we need to accept that we won’t ever get answers to all of our questions. Times of war bring great stress and we need to learn to cope with it and don’t allow it to overwhelm us. Evil causes us to forget about painful memories, in order to survive.)
15. The book cover art is a wood engraving made by Andrew Davidson, what part of this book, did the cover art remind you of?
(This question was added, based on our book club feedback. Several members of our group were drawn to this artwork, but weren’t sure what part of this book it related to. During our discussion, there were about 5 ideas of different parts of the story that the artwork related to. As with other good art, we did not think there is a right or wrong answer to this question.)
References for these book club questions---
“Thoughts from a Page” Podcast with Host: Cindy Bernett-- Interviewed author Jacqueline Winspear and this audio file can be found at: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com/int...
Internet article: British Women in the Second World War
https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/btb/in...
Internet article: The White Lady’ by Jacqueline Winspear is a brilliant historical fiction about war, politics and betrayal by Pamela Kramer
https://pamelakramer.com/2023/03/25/t...
Internet article: Sleuths & Sidekicks Book Club: Jacqueline Winspear’s The White Lady---Carol and Jen chat about Jen’s pick: Jacqueline Winspear’s The White Lady
https://www.sleuthsandsidekicks.com/a...
(less)
Book Club Questions: The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear
Author Information to share with the book club: (taken from the book cover and “Thoughts from a Page” Podcast):
Jacqueline Winspear is the author of the 18 book “Maisie Dobbs Series” including four New York Times bestsellers. She also wrote the standalone book “The Care and Management of Lies”, a Dayton Literary Peace Prize finalist and her current standalone book, “The White Lady”.
Jacqueline has also published two nonfiction books, “What Would Maisie Do?” and a memoir about her parents’ lives in England called, “This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing.”
Jacqueline Winspear was born and raised in the County of Kent in England, studied in the University of London’s Institute of Education and later worked in academic publishing and higher education and in marketing communications in the United Kingdom before emigrating to the United States. Jacqueline divides her time between California and the Pacific Northwest.
Book Club Questions:
1. This book starts with Elinor White’s life in 1947 England. Many who lived in England after World War II said “that the peace was worse than the war in terms of the deprivation in England.” What are some of the examples of this deprivation found in this book?
(possible answers---Food rationing, Gasoline rationing, the loss of soldiers and civilans killed during the war.)
Follow-up—How was everyone’s lives affected by the rationing of gasoline that in 1947, only allowed you to drive about 19 miles per month?
2. Elinor fought as a resistance fighter and assassin in Belgium in World War I, what caused her to consider joining in a similar role during World War II?
(possible answers----The death of her family in a bombing and her knowing that she had the skills that were so desperately needed.)
3. The author first got the idea of this book based on a childhood memory of a lady she met as a child who lived in a “grace and favor” home after her war service that included being parachuted into France during World War II. How does the war service of Elinor White change her? Why is living a quiet life so challenging for Elinor?
(possible answers----she is always looking at her surroundings, she sees poisonous mushrooms in basket and that the local butcher is cheating the scales (pages 8-11), she wears white in the winter, she is “patrolling” her property. She cannot shake her memories of killing people, including a small child)
4. According to the author’s family’s experiences, organized crime and black-market goods were rampant during World War II and the years after the war in England. What were the positives and negatives of this organized crime that she talks about in the book?
(possible answers---residents were able to get much needed food items and petrol, families felt protection from the crime families that the overwhelmed police could not provide. There was violence due to the prevalence of guns.)
5. During World War II, people were released from prison to either serve in the armed forces or work in in trades, such as forestry. Why was this done?
(possible answers---there was a big need for people willing to kill, there was a shortage of people to do forestry)
Follow up—what were the negatives to this decision that happened after the war? (possible answers---people had earned their freedom from prison sentences, but they were now very trained killers
6. World War II exposed people to danger and the adrenaline rush of killing. There were major adjustments for people after the war, when they no longer had that lifestyle. But for others, like Jim Mackie, the war gave them a chance to be around people who were different from their family background and start over in a more positive way. What were some of the positives for Jim Mackie?
(possible answers---met his wife, wanted to live a life of honesty and peace)
7. What surprised the author the most about writing this book was the emotional impact this book had on her writing about the effects of war on children. What are the effects of war on children that the author writes about in this book?
(possible answers---losing parents, starvation, growing up too soon, schools shutting down, being abused by soldiers that affects the rest of Cecily’s life, living with the fact you killed someone to protect yourself.)
8. When World War II broke out, millions of men left the workforce in Great Britain to enlist. Britain needed women to fill the roles left by men. In 1941, the National Service Act was passed that “drafted” women from ages 19 to 59 to work. They were interviewed and got to select jobs from a list of openings in both the military and civilian jobs. How did this change the lives of the characters in this book and all of these British women?
(possible answers---confidence that they could do much more than was expected of them, their own earnings, pressures to do a good job to help win the war.)
9. At the end of the book we learn of the betrayal of Elinor White by Steve Warren. Do people betray others because they are evil, or is it simply because of circumstances?
Follow-up: Do you think Steve would have ever told Elinor that she did not kill the little girl in Belgium, Anique?
10. Another character in this book is Jim Mackie’s Aunt, Elsie Finch. What did Elinor White and Elisie Mackie learn from each other? Do you think Elinor and Elisie might have become friends, if the circumstances of life were different?
(possible answers---Elinor learned how to relax and enjoy life while spending time with Elisie. Elisie found someone she could talk with. They both had unusual lives as women and great responsibilities. They were both underestimated frequently.)
11. The author says that “Home is where everyone deserves to be safe” (page 285). How does it affect people when their homes are not safe?
(possible answers---They commit crimes, they are emotionally damaged, they cannot trust others.)
12. Dr Wright says to Elinor that when he was a med student a professor said “Just remember that as the doctor, you are really only there to distract the patient while time and nature do the work of healing” (page 288.) Why do you think he said this to Elinor? Have you ever experienced this in your own life?
13. This book goes between 3 timelines: Belgium in World War I, England and Belgium in World War II, and post war England. How do you feel that this going back and forth was effective in telling this story? Or if it wasn’t, why not?
14. Near the end of the book (page 313), Claire Fields says to Elinor: “Linni, you have as many answers as you need or are likely to get. Don't ask for more. I learned in the Great War that there are many battles to be fought, and one of the biggest is with the veils that come down around us---with all due respect to that American author, you know, Mr. Steinbeck, I call them the 'drapes of wrath.” What does this statement mean for you?
(Possible answers----Sometimes we need to accept that we won’t ever get answers to all of our questions. Times of war bring great stress and we need to learn to cope with it and don’t allow it to overwhelm us. Evil causes us to forget about painful memories, in order to survive.)
15. The book cover art is a wood engraving made by Andrew Davidson, what part of this book, did the cover art remind you of?
(This question was added, based on our book club feedback. Several members of our group were drawn to this artwork, but weren’t sure what part of this book it related to. During our discussion, there were about 5 ideas of different parts of the story that the artwork related to. As with other good art, we did not think there is a right or wrong answer to this question.)
References for these book club questions---
“Thoughts from a Page” Podcast with Host: Cindy Bernett-- Interviewed author Jacqueline Winspear and this audio file can be found at: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com/int...
Internet article: British Women in the Second World War
https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/btb/in...
Internet article: The White Lady’ by Jacqueline Winspear is a brilliant historical fiction about war, politics and betrayal by Pamela Kramer
https://pamelakramer.com/2023/03/25/t...
Internet article: Sleuths & Sidekicks Book Club: Jacqueline Winspear’s The White Lady---Carol and Jen chat about Jen’s pick: Jacqueline Winspear’s The White Lady
https://www.sleuthsandsidekicks.com/a...
(less)
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