The Young Lions has three protagonists, a German and two Americans. The ways in which their lives are affected by four years of war embody Shaw's themes.

The German, Christian Diestl, is an athletic, aggressive individual whose instincts to compete and dominate find expression in Nazi ideology. As the German army rolls to early victory, Christian enthusiastically savors the food, the women, and prestige that are the spoils of victory. When the German army retreats later in the war, Christian grows progressively ruthless in saving his own skin. He readily kills enemy troops, civilians, his comrades, and even his friends in order to survive. Shaw skillfully depicts Christian's incremental barbarism as the emblem of Nazi inhumanity.

Michael Whitacre is an American who has it all: a successful play-writing career, marriage to a beautiful woman, material comforts. The outbreak of the war — and the end of his marriage...