Birds Without Wings

By: Louis de Bernieres

Narrated by: John Lee

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

More than a story

De Bernières captures the soul of humanism in his telling of events before, during, and after WWI from the rarely considered perspective of both non-western and non-powerful actors on the scene. With his graphic descriptions of the atrocities of war (and yes, as other reviewers have commented - it is not for the faint-hearted) and the consequences thereof for regular, peaceful citizens of the world, the author weaves a thought-provoking web that is much, much more than a story.
Yet a story it is and a damn good one, and brilliantly related by the narrator, John Lee.

Great entertainment with a bit of history

This was one of the moste enjoyable titles I've listened to in quite a while. The book skips from the first-hand, fictional stories of the major characters to an omniscient narrator who puts the stories in a hard historical context. Its initial vignettes reminded me of Chaucer, Twain and even Garrison Kieler. Like the Great Powers, the listener is subtly pulled into the horrors of war and the ethnic cleansing which has plagued the Balkans for centuries. The narrator, John Lee, is superb. His suite of seamless voices and accents believably convey and elaborate each character's nuance.
Buy it.

John Lee was phenomenal

For a fantastic book, a fantastic narrator. What a wonderful book! I'm going to be checking out some of his other works as well.

Not for the faint of heart

An intricate web of storytelling that brings an understanding to a part of WWI that has received such little attention. I am in awe of Louis De Bernieres' ability to impart through dialogue so much of the feeling, with such authenticity, the perspective of characters who are so foreign in every way. The one perspective that is not foreign, though, is their humanity, that which is common to us all. It is through the eyes and ears and hearts of these characters that we see the world in which they lived, the community that they shared, and the sometimes improbable lives that they led. De Bernieres weaves a complex story whcih demands much from his reader. If you can commit to that demand, he will deliver an unforgettable tale full of history, humanity, and humor. A masterpiece!

Excellent Antidote for Bigotry

The author not only wrote an engaging story about the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, but an excellent antidote for bigotry. As you get to know the characters, it matters little whether they are Christian or Muslim -- they are just parts of the village we come to know and love. Honor and integrity are shown by both sides as are dishonor and perfidy. Battle scenes are revealed as horrible rather than glorious. His storytelling method reminds me of Faulkner's, 'As I Lay Dying'. The narrator was superb with distinct voices for each character. This was one of my favorite audiobooks.

The Eastern Mediterranean, Explained

This is a great book, provided you bear with the author's chatty, digressive style. But believe it or not, most of what appear to be loose threads in the oriental rug are tied up by the time you reach the end. Also, the point of view changes from chapter to chapter, and not every author can pull off a trick like that; it takes very close attention to detail, and that's something this author has in abundance.

The story focuses on a small, inconsequential village in Turkey between ca. 1900 and 1925. The village is tossed on the sea of world events, and is radically changed, unfortunately for the worse. It also contains a series of vignettes on the life and career of Hamal Ataturk, considered the founder of modern Turkey. Turkey's involvement in World War I and subsequent conflicts with Greece are major themes for this work. If history is not your cup of tea, but you like a good story, I suggest you read a little bit about the development of modern Turkey.

This book has a vast range of characters. Sometimes I wondered if it was really the village that was the main character, and the people are really different facets of the one municipal personality. Overall, highly recommended.

The other side of WWI and more

What did you love best about Birds Without Wings?

The immersion into village life on the southern Turkish coast, and the way that some characters were pulled from that into war and exile, realistically and not romantically.

What did you like best about this story?

I learned a lot about Mustafa Kamal turned Ataturk, and his rise to power was integrated well into the narrative, as gradually one character's progress intersected briefly with the famed leader. While at first these passages appear out of place, they gradually overlap with the characters, who are taken up without knowing it into the formation of Turkey as we know it a century later, a nation which chose to remake itself, at the cost of its Ottoman past.

What about John Lee’s performance did you like?

Best of many moments were his dramatization of the Greek merchant's monologue as he sunk off Smyrna, and an ironic delight was Father Christoferos' fevered denunciation of all things tainted Catholic. John Lee and Louis de Bernieres share the joy and sorrow of a well-told epic, and they remind me of the sheer pleasure in storytelling at a long pace.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me chuckle, as in the many wry comments the narrators make about what one calls the "fetid bed" where nationalism and religion couple to produce monsters, so to speak. I was sad when many characters succumbed to the impact of war and ethnic cleansing. The tone of this book veers between the literary fiction's interest in ideas and ideologies, and the bestseller's skill at entertaining as well as educating readers about the Greek-Turkish clash.

Any additional comments?

This novel remains relevant as a cautionary tale, as we witness new tales of suffering, violence, and refugees across Anatolia and the surrounding Levantine and Balkans. Louis de Bernieres' prequel of sorts to the WWII-themed Corelli's Mandolin now makes me wish that had a John Lee audiobook too. A shame that title is not on Audible.

Too sad and beautiful

Thank you for this glorious telling of a glorious story. I am weeping as I finish it.

De bernieres is masterful as always

The struggle to live harmoniously vs politics

The story of people against the backdrop of global politics, and the complete lack of connectedness of the leaders to the harmonious, functional, lives of the general population. Preying upon human nature of greed, power-lust, religious devotion and fear, the Ottomans enter war and the world is all the worse for it. The Ottoman Empire was tolerant, prosperous and diverse populations living harmoniously. Truly beautifully written, no one escapes being damaged. Great narrator (although I sped it up to 1.4x) Great audible book.

great book & narration

One of the best books I've ever read! long. but worth sticking with it. excellent history and rich characters.