Conclave

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel takes place almost entirely within the confined setting of Vatican City during a papal conclave. How did this enclosed environment affect your reading experience, and in what ways did it mirror the spiritual and political pressures that the characters face?

2. Conclave is a religious drama that contains elements of a political thriller. Which aspect did you find more compelling, and how effectively does Harris maintain the tension between sacred duty and human ambition throughout the novel?

3. Harris is known for meticulously researched historical novels like Pompeii and An Officer and a Spy. If you’ve read his other works, how does Conclave compare in its exploration of power dynamics and institutional politics? If not, how did this novel affect your interest in exploring his other works?