For those individuals who perceive straight history books as overly dry, this particular book stands out as one of the finest choices for comprehending the history regarding the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the emergence of the modern Turkish state.

Louise de Berniers offers a fascinating window into the lives of those individuals who were caught in the midst of the colossal social, political, and economic upheavals that took place when Ottoman rule crumbled and was supplanted by the modern, democratic, and secular Republic of Turkey. With a captivating ensemble of characters and an intricate storyline set against the backdrop of calamitous historical events, "Birds Without Wings" is akin to a Turkish "Gone with the Wind." It is tragic and sorrowful, yet the author manages to draw you into the lives of the characters, their homes and cuisine, their travels across the country, and the historical events they endured. So many events unfold and are described in such vivid detail that if you are a patient reader, you can easily become deeply invested. Two especially compelling segments were the accounts of the horrific Battle at Gallipoli and the tragic journey embarked upon when the Greek-Turkish population exchange was mandated. For the non-Turkish individual, this novel elucidates the significant events that have shaped modern-day Turkey and its people.

On a few pages, I realized that I had read "Birds Without Wings" (a long) time ago, and I remembered how it forced me to open and carefully read "The History of Greece" to better understand the chaos of Greco-Turkish relations. And this book is actually about this - how Greece and Turkey emerged from the Ottoman Empire, and how people were surprised to find out that they were Greeks or Turks. And once they found out, they began to maliciously cut each other's throats.

Mostly, you will read about the fates of the inhabitants of a small coastal town, where Christians and Muslims have lived side by side for so long that the two religions have begun to slowly merge. They speak Turkish, write in the Greek alphabet, marry each other, and generally consider themselves Ottomans. You will also meet some of them in the next wonderful piece by Louis de Bernières, "Captain Corelli's Mandolin".

The second link is World War I, which severely disrupts this idyll. Closely related to this is the steep career of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the very emergence of modern Turkey. The passages about ethnic cleansings (Kurds vs. Armenians, Greeks vs. Turks, Turks vs. Greeks and Armenians, etc.) are horrifying.

It is a great story and an excellent book, well-written and well-translated, it will grab you by the heart.

"Birds Without Wings" is an extremely ambitious attempt to craft an epic. It vividly portrays and follows the lives of the inhabitants of a village in present-day Turkey, both Muslims and Christians, during the waning years of the Ottoman Empire and the eruption of the First World War. In parallel, it also tracks the ascent of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to become the ruler of modern Turkey. This is a massive, well-researched work with an engaging writing style that sometimes adopts a sarcastic tone. Despite having some flaws, it does possess several interesting aspects.

The opening chapters initially seem rather unpromising. The writer endeavors hard to convince the reader to persevere until the end, hinting at an epic and unthinkable tragedy. Understanding that due to the book's genre, style, and ambition, the beginning has to be slow-paced, with the diversity of side stories and characters taking precedence over driving the narrative forward. However, the first 300 pages are overly redundant and repetitive. It could easily have been trimmed by a third without sacrificing any of the details or side stories, which unfortunately is not a mark of great writing. The cliched spine around which the narrative and side-stories develop, an all-too-familiar ill-fated inter-faith love story, doesn't enhance the overall quality much. Patience is somewhat rewarded in the second half of the book, which is significantly better with a faster pace and vivid descriptions of life during wartime, both on the front lines in the trenches and back in the village.

On a personal note, being familiar with the backdrop of Muslim-Christian coexistence and the role of traditions and superstition in people's lives perhaps diminishes the fascination that an outsider reader might experience (hence the wide critical acclaim). The writer does a great deal to balance the narrative and present an equal account of the atrocities committed by each group of people during that crazy era of sectarianism, nationalism, and utopianism. He emphasizes through his characters that each party would blame the other for violence dating back further and further in time. However, this doesn't prevent him from clearly pointing the finger at the Greek prime minister during the Great War, Eleftherios Venizelos, as well as the British prime minister Lloyd George, sympathizing with a particular view of the Ottoman Empire that regards its system as truly cosmopolitan and just. I find this taking of sides, in addition to contradicting the writer's own ideas in the book, to be at least unnecessary.

Generally speaking, the sheer volume of the book reflects redundancy and repetition rather than richness. The multiple narrators add some vitality to the events, but they don't offer sufficient diversity as their accounts are almost identical. For example, there is a similar description of the village by two strangers seeing it for the first time (a mistress of the Aga of the village and a merchant from Smyrna/Izmir). The chapters dedicated to the main story, the doomed inter-faith love, are low points as they are marred by repetition and have a contrived ending. On the positive side, the chapters following the story of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's rise to power and the Great War are quite enjoyable, with short, concise, and effective sentences. They always arrive at the right time to present a contrasting view of the plans and decisions of big political powers against the lives of ordinary people and poor soldiers. Other positive points include the realistic portrayal of some primitive and brutal aspects of most characters. The calm and peaceful side is shown alongside the violent barbarism and tribalism, much like extreme beauty coexisting with extreme ugliness.

Overall, it has very interesting parts scattered throughout, and some truly humorous and reflective writing. It provides a good reading experience (since even average writing can help us appreciate the masterpieces a bit more), and is a recommended read for those interested in this historical period from both political and humanistic perspectives.

I was in Kayakoy last summer. I firmly believe that the fictional town of Eskibace is based upon it. During my stay there, a local recommended this book to me.

It truly is a sumptuous read. The author has masterfully written it through the eyes of various characters. Each and every one of them is fascinating and, most importantly, oh-so-human. They all have their own foibles, prejudices, and philosophies. It makes them feel so real and relatable.

However, the ghastly events that are taking place in the background gradually and inexorably take centre stage. These events are so powerful that they shatter the lives of just about everyone we've met in the book. It's a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, filled with emotions and a sense of the harsh realities of life.

Overall, it's a remarkable book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a captivating and thought-provoking read.

This is truly a long and captivating read! It gives the impression of delving into Proust, yet with a distinct personality of its own.

Each chapter is penned with meticulous detail and vivid descriptions. It explores profound themes such as life, death, love, God, and religion.

It also delves into how the Greeks can coexist with the Turks and how Muslims can befriend Christians. There are a few chapters that are truly heartbreaking.

What makes this work even more remarkable is that it is all written in the most beautiful and enchanting words.

It is a literary masterpiece that takes the reader on a journey through a world of emotions, ideas, and cultures.

One cannot help but be drawn in by the author's skillful storytelling and the depth of the subject matter.

It is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.

Just been re-reading this as it was my book club choice.

What can I say? It is probably one of my favourite books ever. It's a patchwork of small and great lives in the Turkish Empire. Here, Muslims and Christians live side by side, with their strange customs and quirks. You just wait for the hand of history to intervene and shatter their peace. It's in turns both funny and tragic. The characters are vividly painted, with all their flaws and imperfections.

Don't be put off by its huge size. I just hurtled along with the switching narrators and changing time and place. The story is so engaging that you don't even notice the length.

This is a stunning achievement from one of Britain's best current writers. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical novel.

554 pages, with a couple of breaks in between.

I shuttled between the audiobook and the regular book, and after a few months, I finally finished "Birds Without Wings"! I feel as if I've been in a marathon.

The first 40 or so chapters were quite challenging. I found it overly described, with a large cast of characters. Seriously, could the author have said and described things a bit more succinctly? There were some flashes of greatness in the writing, but they were overshadowed by verbosity.

It wasn't until the 40th or so chapter that I felt the book began to flow more smoothly. It started to focus more on Mustafa Kemal and the war, and the writing style evolved to be more about narrating the story rather than just description for the sake of description.

The richness of the historical era of that period has always held my interest. The seeming co-existence of Turks, Greeks, Armenians, Jews, and others during that time is indicative of how diverse and complex it could be. Mustafa Kemal is a fascinating personality, and one can see how and where modern Turkey derived its roots.

If it hadn't been for the slow start in the first one-third of the book, I would have given it a higher rating. It definitely would have been a better read if it had been about one-third shorter as well!

I munched my way through this with great relish. It truly has the same wonderful mix of honesty, non-judgmental observation, and fascinating historical detail that I have come to deeply love about Louis de Bernieres. As seems to be his style, it is a touch long-winded in certain sections. In this particular case, the Mustafa Kemel sections stand out. However, even these sections are so fascinating that they only inspire the mildest spike of irritation and nothing more serious than that.

I am fast developing a profound love for this writer. I find myself making grabby hands, eager to get my hands on another one of his books. His writing has a unique charm that keeps me engaged from start to finish. I can't wait to explore more of his works and discover the new worlds and stories he has to offer.

Birds without wings描绘了虚构的埃斯基巴赫切镇，包括它的鼎盛时期以及人们流离失所后的景象。统治的力量，就像命运一样，“轻抚少数人，骚扰多数人”。这个故事探索了这些多数人的生活，以及他们的命运是如何因来自异国他乡的战争和冲突而改变，纯真又是如何丧失的。

在这本书中，角色们的生活被颠覆，我们看到他们的命运破碎，精神萎靡，关系破裂。每个角色似乎都有一种隐隐的怀疑或直觉，觉得自己的生活出了问题，他们的情况或决定违背了自己的命运。这种拒绝命运或被命运拒绝的感觉或认知，是这本书中许多角色的核心。许多角色觉得自己的生活偏离了正轨，他们没有在本该离开地球的时候离开。这让他们感到沮丧，内心总是带着一些无法摆脱的死气沉沉的东西。与那些疯狂的角色的感受相反；他们活着却如同死亡，内心还带着一些既无法触及也无法去除的鲜活的东西。

这本书的范围很广，它涉及历史、冒险和悲剧。它展示了人们对爱和社区的倾向，同时也展示了他们相互非人化的相反倾向。它将个人关系的美好与暴民行为的反常进行了对比。它将一个社区的相对和平与国家权力的不和谐进行了对比。

一个角色描述说，当人们看不到出路时，他们就会像没有翅膀的鸟儿一样，变得温顺，而他们的温顺导致他们做出一些他们永远不会同意做的事情。如果他们有选择，他们会选择一条更真实的道路……或者他们会吗？在埃斯基巴赫切有多次暴民爆发的情况，这些人仅仅因为身处群体中就做出了邪恶的行为。人类行为中的这种邪恶与这本书中政府及其代理人的行为相似。就好像民族国家是暴民的狂热表现为一个有组织的机构。虽然这些角色别无选择，只能服从政府的要求，但他们确实有在暴民中公平对待他人的选择，并且可以选择不这样做。德·贝尼埃很好地将善与恶进行了对比，让我们看到了人性背后的现实。

虽然政府的压迫是这本书的一个主要组成部分，但这并不是我觉得持久的东西。在我脑海中持久的，是每个角色带给彼此和他们的城镇的精神、喜悦和心碎。这种广泛的情感将在我心中停留很长时间，我很感激这本书能够提供的同理心和视角。5/5杰出的现代小说。

额外的想法：鼓励年轻学生阅读主角与自己文化/宗教/种族/地位相反的书籍可能是个好主意。像这样的书，清晰而富有同情心地向人们揭示，我们根本没有什么不同——别人的经历和情感与我们自己的并没有什么不同。

Either de Bernières' wife cheated on him with an Armenian, or the Turkish government funded this book. I have never read anything so anti-Armenian. There is one Armenian character with whom he gets acquainted in the Ottoman town, and his name is Levon the Sly. Just like Schlomo the Sly in a pre-Nazi German village, isn't it? Those cunning, clever Armenians.

De Bernières provides exacting numbers regarding how many Muslims were slaughtered by Russians in countless little-known massacres. However, when it comes to the number of Armenians slaughtered by the Turks, he first absolves the Turks by shifting all the blame to the Kurds (who were hired by the Turks to kill). He excuses the killings by claiming that the Armenians were traitors to the Ottoman Empire anyway. Then he says that it doesn't matter whether 300,000 or 2 million were massacred, because it's a tragedy in either case. As if the New York Times didn't run continuous articles on the Genocide as it was happening, as if Morgenthau didn't resign because the US government did not step in to help the Armenians.

The reviews are quite negative. I don't understand how a book about mass killings, stonings, and whores can be this tedious to read. Moreover, it is downright racist towards the Christians oppressed in the dying throes of the Ottoman Empire. De Bernières writes with a cultural appropriation that only someone from a country that has never experienced genocide can manage.

Magnificent! The work is truly a masterpiece that leaves one in awe.

Vast in its scope, it sprawls across multiple themes and ideas, exploring the depths of human nature and the world around us.

Resolutely humane, it presents a view of life that is both compassionate and understanding, showing the beauty and the flaws of humanity.

Often funny, it has a sense of humor that lightens the mood and makes the reading experience all the more enjoyable.

Forgivably digressive, it may take detours along the way, but these digressions only add to the richness and complexity of the work.

Highly recommended! This is a book that should be on every bookshelf, a work that will inspire, entertain, and move you.

Whether you are a lover of literature or simply looking for a good read, this book is sure to satisfy.

So don't hesitate, pick it up today and discover the wonder that awaits within its pages.

The people who remained in this place have often asked themselves why it was that Ibrahim went mad. I am the only one who knows, but I have always been committed to silence, because he begged me to respect his grief, or, as he also put it, to take pity on his guilt.

Set in southwestern Anatolia (today Turkey) before and during World War I, Birds Without Wings is a truly wonderful novel. It tells the story of a small village and the people who live there. Prior to the war, the community is a harmonious blend of Muslims and Christians, living peaceably together. Among them is Ibrahim, a young Muslim boy who is deeply in love with the beautiful Christian girl named Philothei. They have plans to marry, but the war shatters their dreams and forever changes the lives of everyone in their village.

This was the first book I’ve read of Louis De Bernieres, who is also known for writing the notable Corelli’s Mandolin. To say I was impressed is a huge understatement. It is nearly the perfect novel. The characters are so engaging that they become unforgettable. The story is simply riveting, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The writing is extremely eloquent – few authors can ever achieve such a level of brilliance. And to top it all off, De Bernieres includes some very real and fascinating history of an area that most of us, myself included, know very little about. Birds Without Wings is now firmly added to my “favorites” list! I would rate it 4 1/2 stars!