House of Cards by Michael Dobbs (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of House of Cards by Michael Dobbs. It provides a thorough exploration of the novel’s plot, characters and main themes, including ambition, betrayal and the quest for power. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 25-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of Michael Dobbs
• Presentation of House of Cards
• Summary of House of Cards
• Character study
  • Francis Ewan Urquhart
  • Henry Collingridge
  • Mattie Storin
  • Roger O’Neill
  • Benjamin Landless
  • Charles Collingridge
• Analysis of House of Cards
  • Characteristics of a thriller
  • Literary elements
  • The search for power

About House of Cards

Before it was an award-winning television series, House of Cards was a bestselling trilogy of books set in the UK. The first novel in the series follows the Prime Minister’s Chief Whip, Francis Urquhart, who works in the shadows to influence MPs and broker deals. His knowledge of his colleague’s darkest secrets gives him power over them, and he does not hesistate to use this information for his own gain. House of Cards was followed by two further novels, To Play the King and The Final Cut, both of which were subsequently adapted for television by the BBC.

About Michael Dobbs

Michael Dobbs is a British Conservative politician and author who is best known for his House of Cards trilogy. After studying in the US and writing his doctoral thesis on nuclear defence, he worked as a speechwriter for the Conservative Party and served as an advisor to several Prime Ministers, including in particular Margaret Thatcher. He was knighted in 2010, and now sits in the House of Lords as a Conservative Peer. Dobbs is also known for his writing: he is the author of multiple award-winning novels and is considered to be one of Britain’s leading writers of political fiction.