How Many Miles to Babylon?

Friendship across class divides: Alec and Jerry come from very different social backgrounds, yet they form a strong bond. What does their friendship reveal about the rigid class structures in early twentieth-century Irish society? Do you think their friendship could have endured outside the context of war?

Identity and belonging: Alec grapples with his sense of identity — caught between his cold, domineering mother and his more compassionate father, and later between his officer status and his loyalty to Jerry. How does Johnston use Alec's internal struggle to explore themes of belonging and self-determination?

The role of mothers and fathers: Compare the influence of Alec's mother and father on his values and decisions. How do these parental figures represent broader ideological forces — such as class ambition versus human compassion?

War and futility: Johnston presents World War I as senseless and dehumanizing. How does the novel's structure — starting with Alec awaiting execution — shape the reader's experience of the war narrative? What impact does this framing device have on your understanding of the story?

Loyalty and moral courage: Alec ultimately faces execution for an act of loyalty to Jerry. Do you view his choice as an act of moral courage or as a failure to navigate an unjust system? Could he have made different choices?

Irish identity and the war: The novel is set against the backdrop of Irish involvement in a British-led war. How does Johnston intertwine questions of Irish national identity into the personal story of Alec and Jerry? Why might this context be important?

Voice and narrative perspective: The novel is told entirely from Alec's first-person perspective. What are the benefits and drawbacks of this narrative choice? What insights might we be missing by not hearing Jerry's voice directly?

Friendship across class lines: Alec and Jerry develop an unexpected friendship despite their starkly different social backgrounds. What does their bond reveal about the rigid class structures in early twentieth-century Ireland and Britain? Can they achieve true equality given their differing circumstances?

War and identity: How does World War I shape—or unravel—the sense of self for both Alec and Jerry? In what ways does the war challenge the illusions each character had about their lives?

Parental influence and control: Alec's mother has a powerful and cold influence over him. How does her manipulation contribute to the novel’s tragedy? To what degree is she accountable for the story's outcome?

Duty vs. loyalty: Alec ultimately faces a choice between his duty as an officer and his loyalty to Jerry. Do you think he makes the correct decision? What does the novel imply about the nature of moral obligation during wartime?

Narrative framing: The story is presented in hindsight by Alec as he awaits execution. How does this framing impact the reader's experience of the narrative? What effect does knowing the ending from the start have on the story?

Silence and communication: Both Alec and Jerry find it difficult to communicate honestly—with each other, their families, and authority figures. How does the theme of silence operate throughout the novel, and what are its implications?

Irish identity and the First World War: The novel prompts questions about why Irish men participated in a British war. How does Johnston use the experiences of Alec and Jerry to delve into the complexities of Irish national identity during this time?

Friendship Across Class Lines: Alec and Jerry come from very different social backgrounds, yet they develop a strong bond. What does their friendship reveal about human connection? How does their relationship either challenge or support the strict class divisions of early twentieth-century Ireland?

War and Identity: In what ways does World War I shape or reveal the identities of Alec and Jerry? How does the war strip away the social personas that each character maintains?

Parental Influence and Control: Alec's mother has a strong, almost stifling impact on his life. What role does her character play in the novel? What message does Johnston seem to convey about the harmful effects of parental ambition and control?

Duty vs. Loyalty: Alec faces a heartbreaking conflict between his duties as an officer and his loyalty to Jerry. Do you believe he makes the right decision? What insights does the novel offer about the boundaries of duty?

The Title's Significance: The title comes from a children's nursery rhyme: "How many miles to Babylon? / Three score miles and ten. / Can I get there by candlelight? / Yes, and back again." How does this rhyme connect with the novel's themes and events? What could "Babylon" symbolize for Alec and Jerry?

Narrative Frame: The novel begins with Alec awaiting his execution. How does this framing influence your reading of the story? What effect does Johnston create by revealing the ending's outcome right from the start?

Irish Identity and the War: Many Irishmen who served in WWI found themselves in a complex political situation. How does Johnston address the tension between Irish national identity and serving in the British Army?