In this historical fiction, de Bernières switches between multiple points of view as he follows a diverse set of characters, both Muslim and Christian, who live in small town Eskibahçe, Anatolia in the early 1900s. In the town, readers witness the blossoming love between Ibrahim the goatherd and the strangely beautiful Philothei, the landlord Rustem Bey’s failed marriage and his search for love, and the young soldier Karatavuk’s life changing experiences on the battlefield. All the while, historical figure Mustafa Kemal rises to power as the Ottoman Empire falls and Turkey gains national independence. Dedicated to his grandfather who fought in the Battle of Gallipoli, de Bernières explores themes on nationalism, religion, gender, and love, all while using the motif of birds to demonstrate the devastation everyday people experienced in the face of World War I.
Louis de Bernières helped broaden the canvas of British fiction in the 1990s, gaining a considerable popular appeal with his use of Latin American and continental European settings, his willing...
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Louis de Bernieres