The Young Lions will appeal primarily to readers with an interest in history — either the Second World War in particular or twentieth-century history in general — and with an interest in novels about men in battle. It will also appeal to readers interested in the fictional portrayal of American Jews.

The novel is long and may require significant lead-time, but many readers find that The Young Lions reads quickly.

1. Does the novel retain its power to grip readers today? What enables it to do so?

2. The Young Lions reflects the fascination of the idea of the Common Man which was widely discussed and celebrated in the 1930s and 1940s. In what places do you find Shaw exploring the idea? Thinking about the conclusion, would the book be better described as an "epic" or "tragedy" of the Common Man?

3. Are the reactions to the novel different...