Birds Of Prey

by John Ralston Saul

On a May night in 1968, the plane carrying the French Chief of Staff General Ailleret explodes over the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, killing all aboard except for one. Four years later, writer Charles Stone is drawn irresistibly into the mystery that still surrounds the General's death.

Genres: Fiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

John Ralston Saul is a Canadian writer, essayist, and public intellectual best known for his provocative works on themes such as individualism, citizenship, democracy, globalization, and the role of the public intellectual. His books, widely translated and read around the world, challenge conventional economic and political thinking and advocate for civic responsibility and ethical governance. A celebrated critic of technocratic and corporatist ideologies, Saul is often recognized for his passionate defense of the public good and his deep belief in the transformative power of engaged citizenship.

Born in Ottawa, Saul was educated in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. He holds a PhD from King’s College London, where he focused on the modernization of France during the Algerian War. Early in his career, he worked in both the corporate world and in diplomacy, notably serving as an assistant to André Malraux, the famed French novelist and minister. These experiences informed his understanding of the interplay between power, culture, and politics, which would later become central to his writing.
Saul first gained international attention with his 1988 philosophical novel Voltaire’s Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason in the West, a critique of how rationality, while necessary, had been distorted into a cold, managerial ideology disconnected from ethics, culture, and human values. The book, and subsequent works like The Unconscious Civilization and The Doubter’s Companion, positioned him as a leading voice in what he called “responsible humanism”—a worldview that values reason but insists it be balanced by intuition, memory, and imagination.
His 2008 book A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada argued that Canada’s political culture is deeply shaped by Indigenous values, particularly egalitarianism, negotiation, and mutual respect. The book challenged traditional Eurocentric narratives and emphasized the need for a new national conversation built on inclusion and reconciliation. This work reflects Saul’s long-standing commitment to Indigenous issues in Canada, which has also shaped his public advocacy.
Saul served as president of PEN International, the global writers’ organization, from 2009 to 2015, where he championed freedom of expression and supported writers under threat around the world. He is also the longtime companion and husband of Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada, and served as her close advisor during her tenure from 1999 to 2005.
His many awards include the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction, the Pablo Neruda Medal, and the Canada Council Molson Prize. Saul is also a Companion of the Order of Canada and a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France.
Through his essays, novels, lectures, and international work, John Ralston Saul has established himself as one of Canada’s foremost thinkers—a defender of thoughtful dissent and a persistent voice for a more just, inclusive, and imaginative society. His work continues to influence debates on democracy, culture, and civic engagement both in Canada and abroad.

Reviews

[Aleksandar Matijaca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rare, hard to find book by John Ralston Saul - a fiction book by John Ralston Saul, who is better known for his philosophical writings about the West. This book deals with the private investigation of a crashed airplane on an island in French Polynesia. On the plane are some French government VIPs, and the investigation leads to some dark corners of French history, and the organization and scandals of French military.

A relatively easy read, however, in the end, not quite satisfying.

[Elaine Ball · Rating 3 out of 5]

very slow book, but very interesting once I got into it. All the references to Paris and the french countryside were unfortunately lost on me.
I am slowly working my way through all these old books I dug up.

[Strong Extraordinary Dreams · Rating 1 out of 5]

... and some of his other books are so great.

[nerds•b4•herds · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it but it really wasn't my kind of book. I found myself falling asleep after reading for only five minutes or so. (Which is very unusual for me.)