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Thorn Birds

By Colleen McCullough
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4.25 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 362,224 ratings, 8,885 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough is a sweeping family saga set in the Australian outback, spanning several decades. It explores the complex relationships within the Cleary family, with a focus on the forbidden love between Meggie Cleary and a Catholic priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart. The novel delves into themes of ambition, love, sacrifice, and the struggle against societal and personal constraints.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this sweeping family saga if you're drawn to multi-generational tales set against the backdrop of the Australian outback. This novel offers a rich tapestry of love, ambition, and tragedy, woven through complex characters and dramatic landscapes, sure to captivate anyone who enjoys epic storytelling and exploring the intricate dynamics within families.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The bestselling Australian novel of all time, Thorn Birds is the sweeping saga of three generations of the Cleary family.

Stoic matriarch Fee, her devoted husband, Paddy, and their headstrong daughter, Meggie, experience joy, sadness, and magnificent triumph in the cruel Australian outback. With life's unpredictability, it is love that is their unifying thread, but it is a love shadowed by the anguish of forbidden passions. For Meggie loves Father Ralph de Bricassart, a man who wields enormous power within the Catholic Church...

As powerful, moving, and unforgettable as when it originally appeared, The Thorn Birds remains a novel to be read... and read again.

'A heart-rending epic ... truly marvellous' - Chicago Tribune

'A perfect read ... The kind of book the word "blockbuster" was made for' - Boston Globe

'Beautiful ... compelling entertainment' - New York Times

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough is often praised for its sweeping, epic narrative and its intricate exploration of familial ties and forbidden love. Set against the backdrop of the Australian outback, reviewers appreciate the richly drawn characters and the emotional depth McCullough brings to the complexity of the Cleary family saga. While some find it melodramatic, many readers are captivated by its vivid storytelling and compelling themes.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780732297497

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 November 2015

Country: Australia

Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 45.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 518g

Pages: 752

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About the Author

Colleen McCullough was born in New South Wales in 1937. A neuroscientist by training, she worked in hospitals in Sydney, London and Yale. By night, she wrote -- and her second novel, "The Thorn Birds" (1977) became a global bestseller. She published 25 novels, ranging from love stories to crime fiction, including the monumental, seven-volume "Masters of Rome" historical fiction series.

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