The Freedom of Birds

Book excerpt: Two French storytellers and a runaway girl travel through fairytale lands, Italian theatres, and the battlefields of France in search of a place to belong as Napoleon's Empire falls, from the author of Josephine's Garden. '... a vividly imagined and unforgettable tale of love, hope and friendship. Above all, though, this a novel about stories...' Better Reading 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, the importance of stories, and finding a place to belong. Praise for Stephanie Parkyn: 'A luminous, enthralling tale of love, treachery, treason and friendship...full of unexpected twists and turns.' Kate Forsyth on Josephine's Garden 'Spellbinding, rich and an immensely enjoyable blend of fact and fiction.' Blue Wolf Reviews on Josephine's Garden