Remi Victoire is the golden child among all the theatre orphans; he dreams of a life on a Paris stage. But when this future is stolen from him, Remi and his faithful friend Pascal turn their backs on Paris forever.
With Saskia, a runaway orphan girl, Remi and Pascal form a performing troupe, travelling through the fairytale lands that are home to the Brothers Grimm, before finding a safe haven in Venice.
As Napoleon’s vast Empire crumbles, the French storytellers discover that Paris itself is now at risk of invasion and they fear for the loved ones they have left behind.
From picturesque villages to Italian theatres and on to the battlefields outside of Paris, this is a beautifully told story about the bonds of love and friendship, and the importance of stories.
Stephanie Parkyn is a New Zealand based author whose first novel, Into the World, was published to wide acclaim in 2017 and longlisted for the Tasmanian Book Prize. Her second novel, Josephine’s Garden, was a captivating bestseller based on the true story of the woman who became Napoleon Bonaparte’s Empress of France. Parkyn returns to similar territory in The Freedom of Birds, which is loosely connected to her past two novels. However, it is not necessary to have read those to enjoy this.
As a history buff and a lover of fairy tales and folklore, I was definitely intrigued by the premise of The Freedom of Birds. I was not disappointed. The novel spans from 1807 to the first defeat of Napoleon in 1814. This was a time of great change and upheaval, and Parkyn brings this period vividly to life through meticulous research and dazzling prose.
The novel follows Remi, Pascal and Saskia, three orphans who form a family of sorts, united by their love of performance and storytelling. All three characters are grappling with issues of abandonment and dispossession, each yearning to discover their origins and find a place to belong. All three made for captivating protagonists, and it was a genuine pleasure to follow their stories.
The Freedom of Birds is a vividly imagined and unforgettable tale of love, hope and friendship. Above all, though, this a novel about stories, one that celebrates the rich tradition of oral storytelling. If you’re looking for a sweeping historical novel to get wrapped up in this Christmas, try The Freedom of Birds.
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