The Thorn Birds

By (author) McCullough Colleen; Introduction by Binchy Maeve
Short description/annotation:
One of the most loved novels of all time, The Thorn Birds is a sweeping saga of dreams, titanic struggles, dark passions and forbidden love in the Australian Outback.
Description:

''Excellent'' DAILY TELEGRAPH

''A true epic . . . this stunning tale has been called the Australian Gone With the Wind'' DAILY MAIL

''One of the biggest-selling, most widely read books in the history of fiction'' OBSERVER

In the rugged Australian Outback, three generations of Clearys live through joy and sadness, bitter defeat and magnificent triumph - driven by their dreams, sustained by remarkable strength of character and torn by dark passions, violence and a scandalous family legacy of forbidden love.

It is a poignant love story, a powerful epic of struggle and sacrifice, a celebration of individuality and spirit. Most of all, it is the story of the Clearys'' only daughter, Meggie, who can never possess the man she so desperately adores - Ralph de Bricassart. Ralph will rise from parish priest to the inner circles of the Vatican . . . but his passion for Meggie will follow him all the days of his life.

A timeless epic romance - a battle between faith and the heart.

Review quote:
She fell not for its romantic hero, but for its Australian setting
Review quote:
A true epic . . . It''s easy to see why this stunning tale has been called the Australian Gone With The Wind
Review quote:
Excellent
Review quote:
Beautiful . . . Compelling entertainment
Review quote:
I simply could not put it down. If it hadn''t been wrenched from me at mealtimes, I''d have starved
Review quote:
A heart-rending epic . . . truly marvellous
Review quote:
DAILY MAIL
Review quote:
OBSERVER
Review quote:
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Biographical note:
Colleen McCullough was born in Wellington, New South Wales, working in hospitals in Sydney and London before moving to the Yale University Medical School to train as a nurse. There she wrote the phenomenal bestseller, The Thorn Birds.
Promotional headline:
* Featured on the Virago website