The Thief of Time A Novel [Paperback]

John Boyne has become internationally known for his acclaimed novelsCrippenand the bestsellingThe Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Now, for the first time in the United States, comes the book that started the career of the author that theIrish Examinercalls one of the best and original of the new generation of Irish writers.

It is 1758 and Matthieu Zela is fleeing Paris after witnessing the murder of his mother and his stepfather's execution. Matthieu's life is characterized by one extraordinary fact: before the eighteenth century ends, he discovers that his body has stopped ageing. At the end of the twentieth century and the ripe old age of 256 he is suddenly forced to answer an uncomfortable question: what is the worth of immortality without love?

In this carefully crafted novel,The Thief of Time, John Boyne juxtaposes history and the buzz of the modern world, weaving together portraits of 1920s Hollywood, the Great Exhibition of 1851, the French Revolution, the Wall Street Crash, and other landmark events into one man's story of murder, love, and redemption.

1.)The Thief of Timeflashes back to Matthieu's past throughout the novel. What possible reasons could the author have had for using this structure? What effect did it have on your experience reading the book? Did it contribute to your connection with the main character or did it make you feel distanced because of the different settings?

2.) How did you feel about the way Matthieu handled his relationships with Tomas's descendants? Did you think that he should have maintained his pattern of acceptance for their expected deaths?

3.) Because of their behavior, did the nephews seem to get what they deserved? How much can we expect people to change the way they act?

4.) How does Dominique's character compare to the other women Matthieu gets involved with throughout his life? In what ways, if any, do you feel she affected his future relationshiplÓ