Birds Without Wings

By: Louis de Bernieres

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 23 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Birds Without Wings traces the fortunes of one small community in Southwest Turkey (Anatolia) in the early part of the last century - a quirky community in which Christian and Muslim lives and traditions have coexisted peacefully over the centuries and where friendship, even love, has transcended religious differences.

But with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and the onset of the Great War, the sweep of history has a cataclysmic effect on this peaceful place: The great love of Philothei, a Christian girl of legendary beauty, and Ibrahim, a Muslim shepherd who courts her from near infancy, culminates in tragedy and madness; two inseparable childhood friends who grow up playing in the hills above the town suddenly find themselves on opposite sides of the bloody struggle; and Rustem Bey, a wealthy landlord, who has an enchanting mistress who is not what she seems.

Far away from these small lives, a man of destiny who will come to be known as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is emerging to create a country from the ruins of an empire. Victory at Gallipoli fails to save the Ottomans from ultimate defeat, and as a new conflict arises, Muslims and Christians struggle to survive, let alone understand, their part in the great tragedy that will reshape the whole region forever.

©2004 Louis de Bernieres (P)2004 Books on Tape

Beautiful, Lyrical Story

Loved this book. The characters float around in my head and remind me of the universality of human existence. Such a clear window the author gives us into a place and I time I can only imagine. Narration is flawless.

Masterpiece. Captivating.

This is my favorite de Bernieres novel. It is well researched, the characters are likable and well developed. You feel as if you’re sitting with them and drinking coffee. The stark difference in lives of those living in Eskibahce and those living in cities such as Leyla and Mustafa is always fascinating. Loved every minute of John Lee’s narration.

True Masterpiece

Loved this lyrical and poetic story of a small village in Turkey before, during, and after WW1. The story is told from the perspective of each character which are many. An absolute work of genius. John Lee does awesome narration!

Truely Excellent

The imagery, the characters the complex web of plots and themes is really quite overpowering. From the first line to the end of the book John Lee had me captivated and transported to such an unusuall reality that I couldn't stop listening.

The emotional depth is palpable, and even though it has been months since I have read this book I can't stop thinking about the characters: their innocent ignorance, sincere love and afection, and in some cases the bullheaded hatred. You cannot get them out of your head.

This isn't a light read, and it isn't for the faint of heart but highly recommended. You will remember it for years to come.

A masterpiece

This haunting, stirring, frightening and sometimes hilarious epic is a perfect fit for Audible. The story is so intensely human, the period characters so vivid, I listened to it over a year ago and I'm listening to it again. The content of the novel provides a real education for ill-educated Americans in a manner that is provocative, exciting and endlessly entertaining.

Wonderful book

What an incredible book! It takes genius of mind and heart to write a book that touches so profoundly and humanly on so much of life -- the good, the bad and the ugly. I have virtually no knowledge of the historical events that surround this story, but hope that the book is as accurate on this as it is in telling the story of people going about their ordinary lives one day at a time. And the prose is magnificent, as is the reader.

Get ready, it's a long book

Long, but lyrical and well written. If long, multi character books are your thing, you will enjoy. If not, be in the mood for this genre and you will enjoy the journey. The audible book was fantastic, the reader brought the personalities to life.

Wonderful

Saddened by the events of history and the cruelty of some individuals. I learned a lot about this period in the Ottoman Empire and the Balkans. Terrible mistakes made by the powers that be.

Birds Without Wings

A great combination of history and art. Some critics say, "He's not Tolstoy".
True enough. Why should he be? But he's just as interesting with that wonderful reader. Highly recommended.

I would give it 6 stars if possible.

by far the best book in my audible library of more than 100 books all of them with excellent reviews.