The Songbirds Went Away

The Songbirds Went Away (Hazalan: XXX) is a novel written by Hazalan author Bangto Echibe and published in 1539. The story follows a family in Hazala shortly before and after Salish colonial rule is established in the highlands in the early-1300's. It is one of the most famous pieces of Hazalan, and indeed Diharan, literature in the world, and is considered the spark of the Diharan Literary Renaissance. The book has been translated in over 50 languages, and is commonly taught and read in many Auroran and Veharian schools and literary groups.

The main focus of the novel is Buhrondo, chieftain of the fictional Hazalan tribe of Maruf. The book is split into three parts; the first part deals with family drama and highland life before colonial rule. The second part deals with the arrival of the Salish in the highlands, while the third part depicts the end of Buhrondo's fall from grace and the establishment of Auroran colonial rule.

Characters
Buhrondo: the main character of the novel. He is the wrathful but fair chief of the fictional Maruf tribe. He has four wives and 11 children. His father, Ulonta, was (in his eyes) a weak and ineffectual leader, which has caused Buhrondo to obsess over being the opposite of his father. His obsession has led him into despising anything he perceives as "soft", such as emotion, music, close friendships, peace, and tasks associated with women. This puts him at odds with his son Janin, who he sees as a disappointment to the tribe and family.

Janin: son of Buhrondo and his first wife. He likes children's stories and spending a lot of time as a lotzol (the Hazalan third gender). While this is normally merely frowned upon, his father takes this as weakness and punishes him severely. This causes him to stay at his friend's family's hut to escape his father. Eventually, Janin stands up to his father for his abusiveness, leaving for the Vayonistic temple established in the village.

XXX

Reception
The Songbirds Went Away has received a Dashan Award in Literature.