Birdsong

by Sebastian Faulks
Birdsong cover
Good Books rating 3.94
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Technical
  • ID: 26
  • Added: 2025-08-10
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9781849439312
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Published: 2010-10-01
  • Formats: 87
  • Reviews: 4

While staying as the guest of a factory owner in pre-First World War France, Stephen Wraysford embarks on a passionate affair with Isabelle, the wife of his host. The affair changes them both for ever.A few years later Stephen finds himself back in the same part of France, but this time as a soldier in the Battle of the Somme, the bloodiest encounter in British military history. As his men die around him, Stephen turns to his enduring love for Isabelle for the strength to continue and to save something for future generations. For the first time, this beautiful and terrible story about love, courage and the endurance of the human spirit is brought to the stage in a version by Rachel Wagstaff, directed by famed director Trevor Nunn.

Reviews
Britannica · Anne Rowe · 2025-09-02
poignant 4.00

Birdsong is a poignant exploration of the inexpressible horrors of war and the lost generation, symbolized through the motif of birdsong as both life and art's voice.

Anne Rowe interprets Birdsong as a novel that transcends conventional language to convey the terrifying realities of World War I, acknowledging that some truths about war are beyond words. The title's symbolism of birdsong captures both the voice of the lost generation and the attempt of art to express what cannot be fully told. This review appreciates Faulks' blending of fact and fiction and the novel’s cultural resonance, noting its adaptations and the lasting significance of its themes in literature and performance.

Quick quotes

    Any attempt to tell the truth about war lies beyond language, for that truth is too awful both to tell and to comprehend.

    The “birdsong” of the title stands for the voice of a lost generation and also represents the voice of art, which attempts, and necessarily fails, to capture it.

    Faulks captures this as Wraysford is commanding a detail of men digging a huge trench that... is meant to be a mass grave for the fallen after the Battle of the Somme.

Goodreads · 2025-09-02
powerful 4.25

Birdsong is praised for its outstanding writing and vivid portrayal of fear and hopelessness during World War I, interwoven with a powerful multi-generational love story.

The reviewer admires Faulks' exceptional writing style that brings the horrors of war to life in a vivid and terrifying way. They appreciate the novel's structure, which spans multiple generations, focusing on Stephen's passionate affair and wartime experiences, and later his granddaughter Elizabeth's discovery of his past. The emotional intensity and the realistic depiction of war's impact on men are particularly highlighted, making Birdsong a beautiful yet harrowing read.

Quick quotes

    "I am driven by a greater force than I can resist. I believe that force has its own reason and it's own morality even if they may never be clear to me while I am alive."

    Faulks' writing is truly outstanding, the fear and hopelessness felt by the men is made vivid and terrifyingly portrayed.

    "I saw the great void in your soul, and you saw mine."

A Young(ish) Perspective · 2025-03-02
poignant 3.00

Birdsong exemplifies the profound bonds of male friendship during wartime and blends themes of love and trauma with a compelling narrative.

This review focuses on the emotional core of Birdsong, especially highlighting the heart and soul found in the depiction of male friendship in the context of war. The reviewer appreciates how the novel addresses the trauma bonding that occurs during wartime, giving a human dimension to the harshness of the conflict. While the reviewer rates the book moderately, they recognize its power to convey complex emotions and relationships, framing the war experience in a deeply personal and affecting way. The narrative is seen as a mixture of love and hardship, capturing the essence of human connection amid adversity.

Quick quotes

    Love in a time of trauma bonding: Birdsong exemplifies the heart and soul of male friendship during wartime.

    The story blends love and trauma in a compelling way.

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

The State Of The Arts · 2014-11-07
moving 4.50

Birdsong is a deeply moving and intense novel that leaves a strong emotional impact, particularly resonating with adult readers.

This review highlights the emotional depth and serious tone of Birdsong, emphasizing that the novel is far from light reading. The narrative's powerful portrayal of love and war evokes strong feelings, making it difficult for readers to remain unaffected. The reviewer stresses the novel's mature themes and its poignant impact, suggesting it is a significant literary work that resonates deeply with its audience.

Quick quotes

    BIRDSONG is anything but lightweight.

    It's most definitely for adults and you would have to be utterly devoid of feeling to say you were unaffected by it.

    The novel evokes a powerful emotional response.

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