Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War (Vintage International)

Product Information

Under the Greystone Kids banner,” Rob Sanders, the publisher of Greystone Kids tells us, “we will publish picture books for young readers, and non-fiction books for middle readers. Furthermore, this new division will include an imprint—Aldana Libros—to be led by renowned children’s publisher Patricia Aldana—that will bring outstanding books from around the world to the English-speaking market." The way that the characters and the atmosphere are built by Sebastian Faulks is just amazing! The reader is taken in to that atmosphere, and shares the feelings of the main character, Stephen. You cannot fail to be totally captivated.

Birdsong: from the winner of the 2022 Carnegie Medal : Katya

The novel's popular reception was similarly positive. Birdsong came 13th in a 2003 BBC survey called the Big Read, which aimed to find Britain's favourite book. [4] It received an "Also Mentioned" credit in The Observer 's 2005 poll of critics and writers to find the "Best British book of the last 25 years" (1980–2005). Birdsong was listed in The Telegraph as one of the most consistently high selling books of 1998–2008, continuously in the top 5,000 sales figures. [18] Birdsong was adapted as a radio drama of the same title in 1997, and as a stage play in 2010. [7] The play adaptation was first directed by Trevor Nunn at the Comedy Theatre in London. [7]

The first stage starts in pre-war Amiens, France. Stephen Wraysford visits and lives with René Azaire, his wife Isabelle and their children. Azaire teaches Stephen about the French textile industry. He witnesses a comfortable middle class life in Northern France alongside industrial worker unrest. Azaire and the significantly younger Isabelle express discontent with their marriage. This sparks Stephen's interest in Isabelle, with whom he soon falls in love. During one incident, Azaire, embarrassed that he and Isabelle cannot have another child, beats her in a jealous rage. Around the same time, Isabelle helps give food to the families of striking workers, stirring rumours that she is having an affair with one of the workers. BIRDSONG by Julie Flett is a notable new picture book about an intergenerational friendship. It’s well worth adding to the collection. The book was utterly mesmerizing in its portrayal of Stephen and all the things that ultimately made him what he later would be. He was a broken man, as I am sure all those young boys who survived were. Yet, survive he did almost as if fated to do so. With so much carnage surrounding them, I am sure oftentimes even in survival, they wished to be among the dead. Birdsong is part of a loose trilogy of novels by Sebastian Faulks, alongside The Girl at the Lion d'Or and Charlotte Gray; the three are linked through location, history and several minor characters. [3] Birdsong is one of Faulks's best received works, earning both critical and popular praise, including being listed as the 13th favourite book in Britain in a 2003 BBC survey called the Big Read. [4] It has also been adapted three times under the same title: for radio (1997), the stage (2010) and television (2012). Bloomsbury Publishing". Bloomsbury.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008 . Retrieved 12 December 2010.

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks | Waterstones Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks | Waterstones

Elizabeth Benson – Granddaughter of Stephen Wraysford. Elizabeth has a job in company which manufactures garments. She wants to find out more about World War I and her grandfather's actions. She does this by phoning elderly servicemen, visiting war memorials and translating Stephen's diary. Katie Marland’s illustration of the Skylark, from Birdsong in a Time of Silence. Photograph: Katie MarlandHe's frightened that it doesn't make sense, that there is no purpose. He's afraid that he has somehow strayed into the wrong life." René Azaire – Factory owner in Amiens. He states that Stephen will go to Hell for his affair with his wife Isabelle. Embarrassed by his inability to have a child with his wife he beats Isabelle. Birdsong is a powerful novel, spanning generations and taking us through the horrors of World War 1.