Birdsong

Sebastian Faulks

Feb 2010 · Vintage War Book 7 · Random House

About this ebook

'Magnificent - deeply moving' Sunday Times
'Engrossing, moving, and unforgettable' The Times

In the heat of the French summer of 1910, young Englishman Stephen Wraysford arrives in Amiens to stay with the Azaire family. But soon a secret passion emerges that threatens to destroy the household. Six years later, Stephen finds himself on the Western Front with civilization itself in the balance. And in a maze of tunnels under the trenches he will fight for everything he has known and loved.

An epic of love, death and redemption, Birdsong has moved millions of readers all over the world to become a contemporary classic.

Ratings and reviews

Sebastian Faulks is an amazingly talented writer, but the book is not an easy read throughout. It gives us a very factual account of the Battle of the Somme and the British soldier life in the trenches from all aspects of life. If you think you knew it all, read this book and I am sure you will discover some new revelations. If I have to critisid one thing, it will be the implementation of a few chapters set in the late 1970, involving the main actors grand daughter. Personally I would have prefered to hear about the last of the protagonists life from Jeanne, rather than Elizabeth, but this book is still a fantastic read and it is hard to believe that it would leave anyone untouched.

The hype surrounding this book is well deserved. It perfectly provides a human perspective of the war and its horrors with a touching love story laced throughout.

Incredibly gripping! You're in the trenches with them and feeling the pain and hurt and terror. Very very moving. This should be made into a film.

About the author

Sebastian Faulks has written nineteen books, of which A Week in December and The Fatal Englishman were number one in the Sunday Times bestseller lists. He is best known for Birdsong, part of his French trilogy, and Human Traces, the first in an ongoing Austrian trilogy. Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as a journalist on national papers. He has also written screenplays and has appeared in small roles on stage. He lives in London.