City of God is named for Augustine’s work of the same name regarding Christianity in 5th century Rome. How is this book in conversation with that much earlier work, and in what ways does it build on Augustine’s argument?

How is the structure of the book uniquely suited to the thematic and narrative content? Why is metafiction the chosen mode for telling this story?

Compare Thomas Pemberton’s narrative arc with Everett’s own. How do their journeys coincide? In what ways is Everett choosing Pemberton as his subject a matter of his own character?