Briefing for a descent into hell cover

Briefing for a descent into hell

by Doris Lessing

An unidentified man is admitted to a London hospital after he is found wandering on the Embankment. Later identified as a Cambridge lecturer, he remains oblivious to his past life. This novel develops the idea that mental illness can be a liberating experience for both the individual and society.

More by Doris Lessing

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?