For other uses, see The Thorn Birds (disambiguation).
The Thorn Birds
First edition
Author
Colleen McCullough
Country
Australia
Language
English
Genre
Family saga
Publisher
Harper & Row
Publication date
April 1977
Media type
Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages
692
ISBN
0-06-012956-5
OCLC
2886288
Dewey Decimal
823
LC Class
PR9619.3.M32 T5 1977
The Thorn Birds is a 1977 novel by Australian author Colleen McCullough. Set primarily on Drogheda—a fictional sheep station in the Australian Outback named after Drogheda, Ireland—the story focuses on the Cleary family and spans 1915 to 1969. The novel is the best-selling book in Australian history, and has sold over 33 million copies worldwide.[1]
The novel was also adapted into an eponymous television miniseries; during its 27–30 March 1983 run, it became the United States' second-highest rated miniseries of all time, behind Roots. Subsequently, a 1996 miniseries entitled The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years filled in a gap of 19 years in the middle of the novel. It was criticised for inconsistencies with the original series.
The novel was also adapted into a musical in 2009, The Thorn Birds Musical. In 2022, The Thorn Birds was included on the "Big Jubilee Read" list of 70 books by Commonwealth authors, selected to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[2]
^Thomsen, Simon (30 January 2015). "People Are Going Nuts Over This Obituary For Author Colleen McCullough Which Called Her 'Plain' And 'Overweight'". Business Insider Australia. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
^"The Big Jubilee Read: A literary celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's record-breaking reign". BBC. 17 April 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
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