The Thorn Birds - Genevieve's BookWyrm

mass market paperback, 692 pages

English language

Published June 1978 by Avon.

ISBN:: 978-0-380-44479-3

(1 review)

Spanning three generations and an infinite range of human emotions, The Thorn Birds is the story of a singular family, the Clearys, who leave New Zealand to live on a vast Australian sheep station, where their triumphs and tragedies are interwoven with the wonder and terror of a land ravaged by cycles of drought, fire, and torrential flood. But most of all, it is the story of Meggie, who falls madly in love with a man she can never marry, and of Ralph, a truly beautiful man, whose ambition takes him from Outback parish priest to the inner circles of the Vatican-but whose love for Meggie Cleary will lead to a passion he cannot control.

The novel begins in 1915 and ends more than half a century later, when the only survivor of the third generation, Justine, a brilliant London actress, sets a course of life and love halfway around …

Spanning three generations and an infinite range of human emotions, The Thorn Birds is the story of a singular family, the Clearys, who leave New Zealand to live on a vast Australian sheep station, where their triumphs and tragedies are interwoven with the wonder and terror of a land ravaged by cycles of drought, fire, and torrential flood. But most of all, it is the story of Meggie, who falls madly in love with a man she can never marry, and of Ralph, a truly beautiful man, whose ambition takes him from Outback parish priest to the inner circles of the Vatican-but whose love for Meggie Cleary will lead to a passion he cannot control.

The novel begins in 1915 and ends more than half a century later, when the only survivor of the third generation, Justine, a brilliant London actress, sets a course of life and love halfway around the world from her roots.

(interior description)

38 editions

Gertie MacDowell reviewed The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

Not particularly good in any sense of the word

1 star

I was going to write a full review but to be honest this book isn't worth the hassle. The narrative drives a cast of characters too flat to be of any interest. The central plot may have been scandalous when published but now appears downright vile in light of the past quarter century of scandals involving the church. I think it's a popular book thanks to a long story, because it certainly isn't because of the characters or themes. One star for sparking an interest in Australia.