BOOK CLUB CLASSICS

Birdsong

by Sebastian Faulks (£8.99, PB, Vintage Publishing)

The story

In this modern classic, we meet Stephen Wraysford, a young Englishman who arrives in France in 1910 to stay with the Azaire family. He falls for Isabelle, the wife of his host and they embark on a tempestuous love affair. Stephen volunteers to fight in World War I and experiences the horrors of war from the trenches. We watch the story move between three periods of time, including when Stephen’s granddaughter discovers his diary.

Our verdict

This critically acclaimed novel is a thought-provoking look at the atrocities of war and the indestructibility of love. Passionate and heart-wrenching, the story will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.