Summary of “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” by Suzanne Collins

DE Stories
3 min readAug 1, 2023

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“The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” by Suzanne Collins is a gripping prequel to the immensely popular Hunger Games trilogy. Released in 2020, the novel delves deep into the backstory of the infamous President Coriolanus Snow, providing readers with an intriguing perspective on the origin of the dystopian world portrayed in the series.

Set in the dystopian nation of Panem, “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” transports readers back to a time long before the events of the original trilogy. The novel takes place during the 10th annual Hunger Games, a crucial period in Panem’s history when the Games were still in their early stages and lacked the glamor and pageantry seen in later years. Amidst this backdrop of poverty, struggle, and oppression, we witness the rise of Coriolanus Snow, whose eventual rule as President will bring about untold suffering for the citizens of Panem.

A central theme in “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is the nature of power and the corrupting influence it can have on individuals. At the novel’s outset, Coriolanus Snow is portrayed as an ambitious and cunning student, eager to climb the social ladder to escape his family’s impoverished status. However, as he becomes a mentor to the Games’…

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