City of Thieves

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence and illness or death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. City of Thieves opens with a framing device wherein the narrator is interviewing his grandfather about his wartime experiences. How did this structure affect your reading experience? Did learning from the beginning that Lev would survive and marry Vika enhance or diminish the story’s tension?

2. The novel balances horrific depictions of wartime suffering with moments of humor and friendship. How effective did you find this contrast? Did the moments of levity make the darker aspects more bearable, or did they feel out of place?

3. What did you think about the unusual quest for eggs as the central plot device in a war novel? Have you read other books that use seemingly trivial quests to explore serious historical events—e.g., All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr? If so, how does City of Thieves compare?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Lev stays in Leningrad against his mother’s wishes, wanting to defend his city and prove himself a man. Reflect on a time when you chose to take a stand or make a difficult choice that others advised against. What motivated your decision?

2. Throughout the novel, Lev struggles with feelings of cowardice and inadequacy compared to Kolya. Have you ever experienced similar feelings of inadequacy when comparing yourself to someone else? How did you overcome these feelings?

3. The friendship between Lev and Kolya develops quickly under extreme circumstances. Have you ever formed a deep bond with someone in an unusually short period of time? What circumstances facilitated this connection?

4. Food plays a central role in the novel, representing not just survival but also luxury, power, and hope. Describe a time when a particular food held a meaning for you beyond basic sustenance. How did this change your relationship with that food?

5. Lev initially is jealous of Kolya’s confidence and charm, especially with women, but later comes to admire his bravery and kindness. Has your perception of someone ever shifted dramatically from initial dislike to deep appreciation? If so, what prompted this change?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. City of Thieves portrays both the Nazi siege and the oppressive nature of the Soviet regime. How does the novel present the moral complexities of wartime, when even the “good guys” might commit terrible acts?

2. The novel depicts the siege of Leningrad, during which approximately 1 million civilians died, yet Western literature portrays this historical event less frequently than other World War II events. Why do you think certain historical tragedies receive more attention than others in cultural memory?

3. The novel’s characters go to extreme lengths to survive, including cannibalism. How does the novel challenge readers to consider what they might do in similar circumstances? Do you think moral boundaries become more flexible during extreme situations like war? Why or why not?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the character of Colonel Grechko represent the moral complexities of the novel? Does the text present him as a villain, a victim of the system, or something more nuanced?

2. Examine the significance of eggs as both literal plot device and a metaphorical element in the novel. What do they represent beyond their face value?

3. Lev and Kolya serve as character foils throughout the novel. How do their different personalities, backgrounds, and approaches to life highlight the novel’s themes?

4. The novel can be read as Lev’s coming-of-age story. What specific moments mark his transition from boy to man? Is there a single defining moment, or is it a gradual process?

5. How does Benioff use food imagery throughout the novel to develop themes of deprivation, power, and desire? What other sensory descriptions does he use effectively?

6. The novel often uses phallic symbols like weapons to represent power and manhood. How does this symbolism contribute to communicating Lev’s coming-of-age? Where does the novel most effectively use this symbolism?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The story of City of Thieves would make a compelling film. Which actors might bring Lev, Kolya, and Vika to life most effectively, and why?

2. You have been asked to create a piece of music that captures the essence of Lev and Kolya’s journey. What instruments, tempo, and mood would you incorporate to represent their evolving relationship and the environment they traverse?

3. The relationship between Lev and Vika continues many years beyond the scope of the novel. Write a brief scene that might have occurred between them five years after the war.

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