BirdsongBirdsong
Score Modern
What it's about
Rootless and heartbroken, Stephen Wraysford joins the army at the outbreak of the First World War. He and his men are assigned to tunnel under the German lines and set off bombs, and the comradeship, love and loyalty of the soldiers contrast with the horrors of underground, air and trench warfare.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the BBC's Big Read. It's one of the most powerful novels about the First World War.
You'll love it if you liked
All Quiet on the Western Front
The Ghost Road
AtonementGood to know
Its war scenes are graphic.
By the numbers
- Readers50 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller27 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #1129 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2087 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is Birdsong worth reading?
Yes. It's on the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #2,087 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Birdsong about?
Rootless and heartbroken, Stephen Wraysford joins the army at the outbreak of the First World War. He and his men are assigned to tunnel under the German lines and set off bombs, and the comradeship, love and loyalty of the soldiers contrast with the horrors of underground, air and trench warfare.
How long does it take to read Birdsong?
About 12 hours (483 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Birdsong?
If you liked it, try All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, The Ghost Road by Pat Barker or Atonement by Ian McEwan.