Books like Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières

Birds Without Wings is a novel by Louis de Bernières, written in 2004. It is narrated by various characters and tells the tragic love story of Philothei and Ibrahim, as well as the rise of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the 'Father of the Turkish Nation'. The overarching theme of the story covers the impact of religious intolerance, over-zealous nationalism, and the war that often results. The characters are unwittingly caught up in historical tides outside of their control. The title, 'Man is a bird without wings, and a bird is a man without sorrows', is taken from a saying by one of the characters, Iskander the Potter. The book includes a vivid and detailed description of the horrors of life in the trenches during World War I, and some of the characters are also present in the author's earlier novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin. The book is set against the backdrop of the turbulent period of World War I and its aftermath, focusing on the characters' lives and the events they witness.

First publish date: 2004