The Young Lions (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Irwin Shaw
- First Published: 1948
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: War
- Time of Work: 1937-1945
- Setting: The Bavarian Alps, New York City, North Africa, England, France, and Germany
- Genres: Long fiction, Realism, War fiction
- Subjects: New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Africa or Africans, France or French people, New York City, 1940’s, World War II, Friendship, 1930’s, England or English people, Anti-Semitism, Ethics, Soldiers, Germany or German people, Alps
- Locales: Africa, New York, NY, France, England, Germany, Alps, Bavaria, Bavaria
Characters Discussed
Christian Diestl (DEES-tehl), a former ski instructor, now a sergeant in the German army. Handsome, rugged, and cynical, he is determined to enjoy and to survive the war. Too worldly-wise to accept Nazi ideology but eager to prosper, he enthusiastically fights in Germany’s early victories and tastes the spoils of war. As the tide of battle turns against the Nazis, Diestl prepares to save himself rather than die for a lost cause. Trapped in a concentration camp by a mutiny, he disguises himself as an inmate and kills a German officer to escape. As he flees...
[The entire page is 746 words long]
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