Set in the early 20th century, this story follows the journey of a Turkish village as it endures the ravages of war. The community is devastated by the conflicts that tear through the land, leaving behind a trail of destruction and sorrow. Yet, within this turmoil, there are also moments of humour and profound observations on the human condition.

The villagers must band together to survive, facing challenges such as food shortages, loss of loved ones, and the constant threat of violence. Through it all, they maintain their dignity and spirit, finding strength in their traditions and each other.

As the story unfolds, we are treated to a vivid portrayal of life in a war-torn village, with all its joys and sorrows. The author skillfully weaves together history, drama, and comedy to create a truly engaging and unforgettable tale. Whether you are interested in history, human nature, or simply a good story, this book is sure to delight.

LdeB, with a touch of gentle humour and often acerbic irony, unfolds the story of the birth of Turkey predominantly through the eyes of Muslim and Christian villagers who coexist peacefully.

The first half of the book描绘了乡村生活，将其与穆斯塔法·凯末尔（阿塔图尔克）的雄心壮志并置。直到第一次世界大战爆发，村民们的生活才受到外界的影响。村里的一个年轻人卡拉塔武克讲述了他在加里波利的经历，没有丝毫细节被遗漏。第一次世界大战的恐怖故事主要集中在法国战场和加里波利的盟军损失上，但这里生动地描绘了堑壕战的全部恐怖。战争的景象、声音和气味，以及基于民族主义野心的战争的可怕徒劳，都被详细描述。LdeB动人地描写了战争对男孩和男人、他们的妻子、姐妹和母亲的身心影响。这是一部精湛的反战小说。

I relished the format of the novel, which is divided into short chapters that depict events from the perspectives of many others and follow the events that led to continued fighting between Greeks, Turks, and others for many years after WWI ended. I had been oblivious to this, but it put into perspective an experience my partner and I had many years ago when we walked through no man's land in Nicosia, Cyprus. Leaving Greek Cyprus, we walked past an exhibition on Turk atrocities and upon entering Turkish Cyprus, an exhibition on Greek atrocities. I hadn't grasped the historical basis for the deep hatred between the two, but now I do.

Overall, this was a highly satisfying, albeit at times harrowing, read. It offers a profound and engaging exploration of a complex historical period and its far-reaching consequences.

It's truly difficult to put down this remarkable book. After spending countless delightful hours laughing and weeping with the people of Eskibahce, a sleepy small town in present-day Turkey. In this town, Armenians, Greeks, and Muslims live peacefully, considering themselves Osmans, until history abruptly disrupts the course of their lives.

Some of the chapters dedicated to Kemal Atatürk and political events were, perhaps, a little too lengthy and overly detailed for my personal taste. However, I still adored this book. The sheer humanity of Bernières, his strive to demonstrate that today's victims could potentially be the perpetrators of tomorrow, and that shallow tags like nationality or religion are never worth a single person's life, make this an important and moving read.

It might seem as if this was a preachy novel, but perhaps the best thing about it is that it isn't. Instead of explicating his philosophy of life, the writer portrays a diverse range of different characters from various walks of life and gives them an authentic voice of their own. I will always remember the Hodja and his beautiful horse Nilufer, the shepherd Ibrahim who went mad due to the atrocities of war, or Ali the Snowbringer who bestows his donkey on a Greek family even though it's his sole means of transport and crucial for his job. Incredible cruelties and acts of generosity are both presented in a believable manner and have thus left a profound impression on me.

This has been one of the most enjoyable reads in a long time, and I'm eagerly looking forward to more books by Bernières.

I read this book as part of a small group consisting of ten friends. We have a monthly reading routine where we take turns meeting at each other's homes.

Everyone in the group, except for my partner Bob and me, really liked this book. However, we both detested it. De Bernieres is indeed a talented writer when it comes to the language. But for a book that appeared to boast about replicating the voices of numerous characters from their youth to adulthood, encompassing different ethnicities, genders, and religious affiliations, I failed to discover any character that could be developed beyond a mere skeleton with a motif attached.

An omniscient narrator interjected his/her observations with first-person accounts. Nevertheless, there was never a clear sense of who the intended audience might be for the first-person narrators. Moreover, the omniscient narrator included a great deal of clumsy exposition and versions of events that were inconsistent throughout.

The novel aims to be an historical fiction set during the time when Turkey becomes a nation at the end of the Ottoman Empire. However, the history seemed to be strongly tilted towards Turkish nationals. I never fully trusted the narrator, which I believe is of great significance in historical fiction.

I can't recall the last occasion when I perused something that was so exquisitely crafted. It was truly remarkable. The writing was unbelievably beautiful, intricate, and had a depth and observational power that was as precise as a laser point.

From the very first page, I was plunged headlong into this breathtaking, vivid, and multi-coloured world that I had no anticipation of. It was an absolute delight to read every single letter of this book.

The author's ability to paint such a detailed and engaging picture in my mind was truly astonishing. It was as if I was watching a movie unfold right before my eyes.

I found myself completely immersed in the story, unable to tear myself away. This book is a true masterpiece and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates fine literature.

The book starts with the ethnic diversity and the frictions within the Ottoman Empire, then leads to the war years and migrations, presenting a striking approach. I read it with great interest and it became a book that I think broadened my perspective in many ways. I highly recommend it...

It offers a detailed exploration of the Ottoman Empire's complex history, covering various aspects such as its social, cultural, and political landscapes. The author's vivid descriptions and in-depth analysis make it easy for readers to understand the events and their significance.

Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply interested in learning about different cultures and periods, this book is definitely worth reading. It provides valuable insights into the past and helps us better understand the present.

‘Goed verhaal/vertekende geschiedenisles’ presents a rather concerning view. This book showcases the tendency of many intellectuals to distort history. While de Bernières' writing skills are convincing, he assumes the reader has no historical background and prioritizes the story over historical facts.

In ‘Birds without Wings’, we are charmed by an idyllic village community in Anatolia in the early 20th century where Greeks, Turks, and Armenians live peacefully together. However, this harmony is disrupted, at least according to de Bernières, by the barbaric and degenerate (mainly Greek) nationalist movements of the first decade of the 20th century. Nowhere does de Bernières give any attention to the brutalities of Ottoman rule and the legitimate desire for national self-determination of the peoples subject to it. Not to mention the omission of the manipulations of the ‘Allied fighting forces’ after World War I, which were the real cause of the drama that would unfold in 1923.

It gets truly shocking when de Bernières attempts to whitewash the Armenian genocide of 1915. Determined to restore the Ottoman state to its former glory, he states ‘that the government didn't intend to massacre the Armenians at all. It only wanted to "relocate" them, and was prepared to guarantee their safety and property!’ It was all the fault of Kurdish unreliable elements in the national security apparatus who hated the Armenians and therefore went beyond their orders. As you can see... and besides, the Armenians asked for it because some of them defected to the Russians during World War I.

This is truly abhorrent nonsense, discredited by well-documented historical evidence. Readers of this book should not be tempted to ignore the historical facts because they are under the spell of de Bernières' undeniable literary qualities. It is much better to read Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk who defends the real history and the truth rather than being submerged in de Bernières' reactionary fantasies.

I have a deep affection for Correli's Mandolin, which is why I was filled with extreme excitement when it came to this novel. However, things didn't go as expected, and it seemed to take me an eternity to finish listening to it.

I still have a great love for the characters and the wonderful village side stories that Bernieres portrays so skillfully. Nevertheless, one of the aspects that I didn't like about Correli's has been magnified to the point of hatred in this book. I simply don't have an interest in long descriptions of war, battles, soldiers, or the men who are in command of battles and soldiers. The sections related to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk bored me to tears. At least in Correli, the dictators were presented in an interesting manner. In contrast, Kemal was described in such a flat and textbook-like way that I never developed any concern for him or his ambitions.

If those chapters could be removed or significantly reduced, I would have had no hesitation in giving this book 4 or 5 stars. However, as it is currently written, a 2.5, rounded down, is all that I can manage to give.

The premise of this book was truly promising. It aimed to present a vivid portrait of Turks, Greeks, and Armenians from an early 20th century Anatolian town, both before and during the collapse of their world. However, its style was rather unique and took some time to get accustomed to.

The chapters are short, episodic, and disjointed, constantly rotating the points of view among a large cast of characters. Although the protagonists do evolve, there is a lack of central tension that drives the narrative. As a result, an already lengthy book seems even longer.

Then comes the issue of politics. Louis de Bernières presents many key events of the Balkan Wars and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire through a prism that many might find objectionable. He condemns all violence and nationalistic extremism, which is praiseworthy. But he does not assign responsibility equally. He blames Turkish nationalists largely on Greek nationalists while eulogizing the imperialist regime that the latter reacted against. Although he acknowledges the atrocities of the Armenian genocide, he again absolves the governing regime of any real responsibility for it. I could continue, but you probably get the idea. As someone with roots in these conflicts, who has known survivors and children of survivors, I find it difficult to accept such commentary passively.

So why then the four stars? Well, although de Bernières’s interpretations may irritate, I choose to believe that his is just one perspective on a history that admits of many perspectives. Also, although his writing style requires some adjustment, it becomes truly enjoyable once you get into its rhythm. And most importantly, the human stories he weaves are fascinating in a way that only distant worlds can be, and poignant in a way that only extreme experiences can be. Vignettes of daily life, such as the ritual exhumation of the dead and the purchase of a mistress, combine with moments of real drama, like a rescue from a death march and a descent into madness, leaving me completely speechless. All I could articulate for weeks was, “Oh, the humanity!”

Another one for the melancholy Turkish stories collection.

Turkish stories often have a unique charm that can touch the hearts of readers. They are filled with emotions, drama, and a sense of melancholy that lingers long after you have finished reading.

This particular story is no exception. It weaves a tale of love, loss, and longing that will make you shed a tear or two.

The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging, taking you on a journey through the lives of the Turkish people.

You will feel their joys and sorrows, and be able to relate to their experiences on a personal level.

The melancholy in the story adds an extra layer of depth and complexity, making it a truly unforgettable read.

Whether you are a fan of Turkish literature or simply looking for a good story to read, this one is sure to satisfy.

History in a Novel is one of my favorite subjects.

It is written in the most breathtaking way that truly urges me to recommend this book to anyone.

If you want to know about the transition period between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey, this book is a must-read.

It also helps you understand the Turkish people's feelings and way of thinking regarding ethnicity complications and international relations.

The author has done an amazing job of presenting historical events in a fictional yet engaging manner.

The characters are well-developed, and the story line is captivating.

Every page is filled with details that bring the past to life.

This is truly the most interesting book I have ever read so far.

I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in history or wants to learn more about Turkey.

"Birds Without Wings" by Louis de Bernières is a captivating novel that takes readers on a journey through a small town in Anatolia.

The story is filled with richly drawn characters and a vividly described setting.

The author weaves together multiple storylines, exploring themes such as love, war, and the power of human connection.

The characters in the novel face numerous challenges and hardships, but they also find moments of beauty and hope.

One of the strengths of the book is its ability to transport readers to a different time and place, allowing them to experience the lives and emotions of the characters.

The writing is engaging and descriptive, making it easy to become immersed in the story.

Overall, "Birds Without Wings" is a thought-provoking and beautifully written novel that offers a unique perspective on history and human nature.

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