Hélène Joncour is the portrait of the loyal and loving wife. Is her loyalty admirable? Is it understandable? Is the reader given enough information about her to make an accurate judgment of her behavior?

Why did Hervé Joncour make such a feeble attempt to hide his attraction for Hara Kei's mistress from Hara Kei or his villagers?

To which qualities of silk fabric does the title of the novel refer?

Does Hara Kei's explanation for why he killed the boy suffice? Is he merely following ancient Japanese law?

Why does Hervé Joncour feel kinship to Jean Berbeck, the man who gave up speaking?

In what ways, if any, would Hervé Joncour have behaved differently if his daughters had been born before he traveled to Japan?

Why does the mayor of Lavilledieu acquiesce to Baldabiou's request to allow his son, Hervé Joncour, to...