Book Club Discussion Questions
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
- The title Blood of Victory comes from a speech given by a French
senator at a conference on oil in 1918: "Oil, the blood of the earth, has
become, in time of war, the blood of victory." Describe the role that oil
plays in Furst's novel. How would you say the relationship between oil and war
has changed over time? Given America's relationship with the Middle East since
World War II, to what extent would you say oil is now the cause of war?
- During Serebin's meeting with "Bastien" (Count Polanyi), Bastien
describes the moral ambiguity of espionage in these terms: "People who trust
you will get hurt. Is a dead Hitler worth it?" Consider Serebin's response
to this question. What moral calculus must he perform to answer this sort of
question? How would you respond to the same question?
- At lunch at the Hotel Helvetia, Kostyka proclaims, "For every man there
are three cities. The city of his birth, the city he loves, and the city where
he must live." Discuss this themes of alienation and exile as they appear in Blood
of Victory. Does Kostyka's pronouncement hold true for the characters in
the novel?
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- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Random House.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.