Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #237 in Books
• Published on: 1994-07-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 528 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Readers who are entranced by sweeping historical sagas will devour Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks' drama set during the first world war. There's even a little high-toned erotica thrown into the mix to convince the doubtful. The book's hero, a 20-year-old Englishman named Stephen Wraysford, finds his true love on a trip to Amiens in 1910. Unfortunately, she's already married, the wife of a wealthy textile baron. Wrayford convinces her to leave a life of passionless comfort to be at his side, but things do not turn out according to plan. Wraysford is haunted by this doomed affair and carries it with him into the trenches of the war. Birdsong derives most of its power from its descriptions of mud and blood, and Wraysford's attempt to retain a scrap of humanity while surrounded by it. There is a simultaneous description of his present-day granddaughter's quest to read his diaries, which is designed to give some sense of perspective; this device is only somewhat successful. Nevertheless, Birdsong is a rewarding read, an unflinching war story and a touching romance.

Synopsis
Set before and during the great war, "Birdsong" captures the drama of that era on both a national and a personal scale. It is the story of Stephen, a young Englishman, who arrives in Amiens in 1910. His life goes through a series of traumatic experiences, from the clandestine love affair that tears apart the family with whom he lives, to the unprecedented experiences of the war itself.

From the Publisher
Powerful and moving bestselling fiction from one of today's greatest living writers.

Customer Reviews

Gave up after 330 pages
I don't like leaving books unfinished. I'm aware that many novels are slow-starters, and it's almost always worth persevering to the end. BUT, I think it's safe to say that I gave this total dud a fair crack of the whip. If you can give up on a book after 330 pages, it must be pretty dull indeed.

As far as the romance element was concerned, I couldn't care less. None of the characters were very sympathetic or even three dimensional. And for a writer to be able to spend so many pages describing the horrors of the trenches without moving me to a single moment of emotion - well, he must have a true talent for draining the feeling out of anything.

I honestly don't get what all the fuss is about. A truly appalling novel.

captivating
beautifully written novel - not having read his novels before i didnt know what to expect and not really having much interest in history - im now completely converted its an awesome read - devastating and tragic

JUST BUY THIS BOOK!!
Probably one of the best books I have ever read, if not the best........ BUY THIS BOOK, you won't regret it, SO well written, it was hard to leave and I couldn't wait to pick it up again, felt quite sad when I finished reading it, and had to wait quite a few days before starting a new book. Needed time to absorb and reflect, if I could give this book 10 stars I wouldn't hesitate!!!! Friends had recommended this book to me for years, and somehow I never got around to reading it, but SO pleased I did!! Trust me, it is EXCELLENT!