Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
"Birdsong" is a historical novel that explores the horrors of World War I through the eyes of Stephen Wraysford, a young Englishman. The narrative alternates between Stephen's passionate love affair with a married woman in pre-war France and his experiences in the trenches of the Western Front. The novel also includes a subplot set in the 1970s, where Stephen's granddaughter tries to unravel the mystery of her grandfather's past. The book is a poignant exploration of love, war, and the endurance of the human spirit.
The 356th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 10th on 30 Books Every Adult Should Read Before They Die (The British Museums, Libraries, and Archives Society)
- 13th on The Big Read (BBC)
- 47th on Waterstone's Books of the Century (LibraryThing)
- 83rd on My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read (Australian Big Read)
- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime (Amazon.com (UK))
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- 50 Books to Read Before You Die (Barnes and Noble)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition (New York Times)