City of Thieves

Discuss Lev’s coming-of-age. How does the novel show him developing from boy to man? What does the novel tell us about the nature of manhood?

How does the novel show us the real human experience behind political and historical events? Discuss how the author “makes it real” and enables us to identify with the experiences of Lev and other characters.

In Chapter 3 Lev guesses that the colonel may have been tortured and forced to join the NKVD. Do you sympathize with the colonel and others like him?

Discuss the development of Lev’s feelings for Vika. How does his behavior begin to change after he meets her? Why is he so attracted to her despite her lack of traditionally feminine qualities?

The novel includes many incidents that illustrate war’s corrosive effect on humanity. Which of these scenes do you find most effective, and why? How does it depict the erosion of humanity in wartime?

Lev dislikes Kolya upon first meeting him, but he later admires Kolya and considers him a best friend. Trace the development of their friendship. How does Kolya serve as a foil to Lev? What is the turning point in their relationship?

The novel includes many vivid descriptions of food, and the plot revolves around a quest for a dozen eggs. Using specific examples, discuss how food serves as a symbol in the story.

Lev spends much of the novel preoccupied with food, sex, and the idea of heroism. Kolya is similarly preoccupied by sex as well as literature. Why do you think this is, given the historical era and the risky nature of their mission?