“There is no finer company than inspiration, but its very goodness will leave you heartsick when it goes.”
The Bellwether Revivals is the stunning debut novel by Benjamin Wood. Beginning as a straightforward piece of literary fiction, the story follows a twenty-year-old care nurse named Oscar as he becomes drawn into the opulent and heady world of Cambridge and a circle of students. The group is led by Eden Bellwether, an enigmatic musical prodigy whose charisma and brilliance lead to a series of increasingly ambitious and disturbing experiments. Ambitious and far-reaching in its themes, we loved reading The Bellwether Revivals and juggling the intrigue and conflicts it raised. That’s why we, here at What We Reading, thought we would pull together some of the best book club questions and discussion starters for those looking to talk more about Benjamin Wood’s 2012 classic!
Who Wrote The Bellwether Revivals?
Benjamin Wood was born in 1981 and grew up in north-west England. He received a Commonwealth Scholarship to attend the MFA Creative Writing Programme at the University of British Columbia in 2004. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at King’s College London. The Bellwether Revivals was first published in 2012 and is his debut novel. The novel received nominations for the Costa First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Book Prize, and it won Le Prix du Roman Fnac. He currently lives in Surrey, England.
What Are The Themes Of The Bellwether Revivals?
Like books such as The Secret History and The Rules of Attraction, The Bellwether Revivals is a commentary on the disconnect between the academic world and everyday life. It explores the conflict between scientific scepticism and faith, music and healing, genius and madness, class divides, and the love that can extend beyond them.
The psychological suspense that revolves around Eden’s true ‘powers’ blurs the line between the supernatural and delusion. As dangerously narcissistic, arrogant, and manipulative as he may be, Eden really is brilliant and exerts a fascinating allure that hooks both the reader and his peers. He is Oscar’s opposite in every sense, attracting and repelling each other through tension-packed interactions that only grow as the book progresses.
By showing Eden and Iris’ world through the eyes of an outsider in Oscar, Benjamin Wood presents a nuanced portrait of connection and friendship across class lines, offering a compelling investigation into the dynamic between genius and madness.
Check Out Our The Bellwether Revivals Review
Discussion Questions For The Bellwether Revivals
- The Bellwether Revivals intertwines with its Cambridge setting. How does this interdependence add to the story?
- How does it compare to other books set in university towns e.g. The Secret History, The Lessons, Brideshead Revisited?
- The book swings between admiration and criticism of Cambridge. Which do you feel is more dominant?
- Academically, financially, and socially, the narrative presents Oscar as an outsider. How does this fit his narrative? Can readers sympathise with his desire to fit in?
- Could Oscar ever truly become part of the Bellwether family/the Cambridge circle?
- Why do the ‘flock’ accept Oscar, despite him being an outsider? How does Oscar fit into a group that is far beyond his reach, and why does his relationship with Iris work despite their differences?
- Why is Oscar drawn to the church by the organ music despite being an atheist? Was his encounter with the Bellwether’s purely coincidental, or is there a slice of fate involved?
- Iris and Eden are treated very differently by their parents. Do you think this is influenced by their gender? What similarities in behaviour and expectation can be seen in Iris and her mother, and Eden and his father?
- Parents failing their children is one of The Bellwether Revivals’ chief themes. To what extent do these pasts contribute to the character’s fates? How responsible are Eden’s parents for his eventual fate?
- Hope, and the absence of it, is another significant theme in the book. Do we understand Crest’s desire to believe in Eden? Which other characters depend on unrealistic hopes?
- Is hope a form of madness, as the book suggests?
- What is the significance of Wood’s decision to begin the book at the end of the story?
- Ignoring the prologue, what hints does Wood drop that suggest the book will have a dark ending?
- Is Eden ever redeemable? Did your opinion of him change as the book progressed?
- Are there any similarities between Oscar’s desire to better himself, both socially and academically, and Eden’s madness?
- Do you believe that Eden is a genius or just a talented madman?
- How do you think drowning Eden would have affected the novel’s course? Does he make the right decision in sparing him?
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
