An American Beauty: A Novel of the Gilded Age Inspired by the True Story of Arabella Huntington Who Became the Richest Woman in the Country

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• An American Beauty is unequivocally centered on the life of Arabella “Belle” Huntington. What is your impression of Belle? Do you find her likable? How do you feel about the way she relates to the other characters in the book or makes decisions about her life?
• Have you read other novels set in the Gilded Age? What is unique about this novel’s exploration or representation of the era?
• Do you read the novel as a realistic portrayal of the real Arabella Huntington’s life, particularly with respect to her motivations and desires? Where and how do you think Abé may have dramatized the story, and to what effect?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Belle is represented as a woman who consistently chooses pragmatism over passion. When it comes to matters of the head or the heart, which way do you personally tend to lean? Think of instances in your life when the choice between the two has been tough; which did you choose, and why?
• The novel explores privilege of different kinds, predominantly class and gender. Reflect on your own life in this context. What privileges have advantaged or limited you, and how?
• The Gilded Age is a historical era that has been extensively represented in different forms of media. What do you think it is about this time period that continues to capture people’s interests and imaginations, even today? What ideas or feelings does this period of history evoke for you personally?
• Throughout their lives, Catherine repeatedly advises her daughters to “Take what you can, when you can” (35). How does this philosophy resonate with you? Is this sound advice for all situations in life? Why or why not?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• The Gilded Age was characterized by extreme social inequality. In what ways does the novel’s depiction of the gap between rich and poor remain relevant to contemporary societies? In what ways have societies changed?
• Do you think women are judged more harshly than men eschewing morality and societal expectations for the sake of personal ambition? How do you see this dynamic playing out, either historically or in today’s world?
• Consider the novel’s depiction of marriage’s function, status, contradictions, and hypocrisies during the Gilded Age. How has the institution evolved over time?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Of the women in the story, who has the most social power? Who has the most freedom? Which does the novel suggest is preferable, and why?
• Discuss how the novel explores the experience of motherhood as affected by the interrelationship between privilege and personal choice.
• How does Shana Abé use Belle’s characters to reconcile the ability and desire to dream big with the hardheaded pragmatism that is necessary to translate dreams into reality? 
• Consider the different kinds of property the novel depicts—houses, art, land (e.g., the garden Belle cultivates), etc. Does the novel suggest any distinctions between these kinds of property in terms of function, value, etc.? Or are all forms of property fundamentally reducible to money?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• If you had to write a work of historical fiction, which historical era would you choose as a setting? Which aspects of this time period would you focus on, and which lesser-known elements would you highlight?
• If you could choose to live the life of any figure from the Gilded Age for a single day, who would it be, and why?

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