Cover of Birds Without Wings
Historical RomanceHistorical Fiction

Birds Without Wings

by

  • 2004 first published
  • 640 pages
  • ★ 4.3 (6 ratings)
  • 26 editions
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Published in 2004, Birds Without Wings is a historical romance and historical fiction novel by Louis de Bernières. It takes readers to Turkey and Gallipoli Peninsula during World War I (1914–1918). Characters include Karatavuk, Iskander and Philothei. Readers will find themes of social conditions, fathers and sons, relations and Christianity.

Open Library readers give it an average of 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, and 20 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 26 editions across 5 languages.

At about 640 pages, most readers finish it in 11–12 hours.

About Birds Without Wings

Birds Without Wings is a novel by Louis de Bernières, written in 2004. Narrated by various characters, it tells the tragic love story of Philothei and Ibrahim. It also chronicles the rise of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the 'Father of the Turkish Nation'. The overarching theme of the story covers the impact of religious intolerance, over-zealous nationalism, and the war that often results. The characters are unwittingly caught up in historical tides outside of their control. The book's title is taken from a saying by one of the characters, Iskander the Potter, "Man is a bird without wings, and a bird is a man without sorrows." The book includes a vivid and detailed description of the horrors of life in the trenches during World War I. Some of the characters are also present in the author's earlier novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
Description from Open Library

Themes, setting & tropes

Genres

Setting

  • Turkey
  • Gallipoli Peninsula
  • South West Anatolia

Era

  • World War I (1914–1918)
  • Mehmed V, 1909–1918
  • 1288–1918

Characters

  • Karatavuk
  • Iskander
  • Philothei
  • Ibrahim
  • Musafa Kemal
  • Abdulhamid Hodja
  • Ayse
  • Charitos
  • Drosoula
  • Leyla

Subjects

  • Historical Fiction
  • Historical Romance
  • Social conditions
  • Fathers and sons
  • Relations
  • Christianity
  • Soldiers
  • City and town life
  • Islam
  • Interfaith relations
  • World War, 1914-1918 in fiction
  • Fathers and sons in fiction
  • City and town life in fiction
  • Islam in fiction
  • Turkey in fiction
  • Soldiers in fiction

Quick answers

Who wrote Birds Without Wings?

Birds Without Wings was written by Louis de Bernières and first published in 2004.

What genre is Birds Without Wings?

It is usually shelved as Historical Romance and Historical Fiction.

How long is Birds Without Wings?

The median edition has 640 pages, about 11–12 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.

What books are similar to Birds Without Wings?

Readers who like it often enjoy Simply Sexual, The Songs of the Kings and Silver Angel.

More by Louis de Bernières

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