War Horse

Product Information

In May 2010, it was announced Steven Spielberg would direct the movie adaptation with Richard Curtis and Lee Hall writing the screenplay. [12] Jeremy Irvine was cast in the lead role. [13] The full cast was revealed on 17 June 2010. [14] It was released on 25 December 2011. [15] Exclusive: War Horse Cast Announced". Empire. 17 June 2010 . Retrieved 17 June 2010. taking the lead (or the reins) is young actor Jeremy Irvine, who has earned his stripes with both the National Youth Theatre and the RSC. With his wife, Morpurgo had founded Farms for City Children, a charity where inner city children live and work on rural farms for a week. [4] Interviewed by Fi Glover on Saturday Live on BBC Radio 4 in December 2010, Morpurgo recounted the event that convinced him he could write the book: Violence: Seeing how this book is about WWI, the evidence of violence is there. However, the author does a wonderful job in its portrayal and steers clear of gore, unnecessarily graphic scenes, and the like.

Why not get started with our Michael Morpurgo Book Review ? This handy template encourages children to analyse what they’ve read and form an opinion about the story. It includes ​​thought-provoking questions to prompt children’s writing, along with stars for readers to rate the book.War Horse was adapted by Steven Spielberg as a major motion picture with Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, and Benedict Cumberbatch. The National Theatre production opened in 2007 and has enjoyed successful runs in the West End and on Broadway. Taylor, Jerome (19 June 2010). "Europe's finest join up for 'War Horse' ". The Independent. London . Retrieved 27 February 2011. An exhibition entitled War Horse: Fact & Fiction opened in October 2011 at the National Army Museum exploring the novel alongside real-life stories of horses involved in war and the men who depended on them, and also drawing on the play and film adaptations of the novel. [22] Sequel [ edit ] His first book was published in 1975 and he has since published over 100 titles. His books have been translated into over twenty languages. Michael’s books have also been adapted for film and the stage, including most recently the National Theatre’s enormously successful production of War Horse. War Horse was written by Sir Michael Morpurgo, one of Britain’s most popular children’s authors. As well as being a successful author, Morpurgo is a dedicated charity worker and family man. He has written over 130 books for different ages and interests and is known for his stories about animals and nature. War Horse is one of his most famous novels.

The painting mentioned in the preface of the book, a portrait of Joey painted by Captain Nicholls and now hanging in the Village Hall (of an unnamed village), was a fiction of Morpurgo's. However, particularly since the success of the stage version of the book, so many tourists have come to the village of Iddesleigh, where Morpurgo lives, and asked to see the painting in the village hall, that in 2011 Morpurgo commissioned an artist to paint just such an oil painting to hang there. He used equine artist Ali Bannister, who acted as the chief "equine hair and make-up" artist on the Steven Spielberg film of the book and who also drew the sketches of Joey seen in the film. [21] But the following spring, Topthorn dies of heart failure while pulling the gun. Seconds later, a battle breaks out between German and English troops. Friedrich is shot and killed instantly, and in his confusion and grief, Joey becomes separated from the rest of the unit. When approaching tanks finally drive him to bolt in terror, Joey becomes lost and eventually wanders into a strip of no-man’s-land. A British Soldier rescues him, and he finds himself being taken to a British animal hospital, far from the front lines.This is not a novel with a complicated plot or twists and turns but a beautiful story simply told and I find sometimes these can be the best. They run the course from a loving teenage French girl to cruel Teutonic warriors, from kindly British officers to equally generous German soldiers. Joey bonds with another horse in his tour of duty, as a sort of big brother. Even without dialogue Morpurgo conveys their attachment. This is a book clearly written for a YA reader, maybe even a Y without the A. It is written simply and is easy to read. Joey is presented as a remarkable steed, and is lavished with enough appreciation to make an adult gag at times, but keep the hankies handy as there is very moving heartbreak as well. In addition, Morpurgo offers commentary on war and a look at the horrors entailed in that War To End All Wars. War Horse is a fast, enjoyable, emotion-rich read, even for an old oater like me. At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home. But then there was also Joey's particular strong bound to some of them like first and foremost Albert. Sir Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL, FKC is an English book author, poet, playwright, and librettist who is known best for children's novels such as War Horse.

Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.What a moving and beautiful story! I couldn’t help but shed tears for the horse and the boy’s love for his horse. I also loved how another soldier promised to take care of the horses like his children. Beautiful illustrations. I loved the details in the illustrations like the forest below with the squirrel and birds in the trees. War is terrifying for both sides and it’s definitely sad for animals being used. I’m unaware of this story so this picture book is my first read from the author. It definitely won’t be my last read though. The characters both people and horses were well liked. I enjoyed the story of Joey and his adventures. He experienced so much and I’m glad he found himself a friend to share the war hardships with. Although War Horse is arguably Morpurgo’s most famous novel about horses, he has written many more, lesser-known titles that involve these majestic animals. Some of these include Listen to the Moon, Barney the Horse, and Kensuke's Kingdom. Reading Michael Morpurgo stories with your little ones… They fight a war and they don't know what for. Isn't that crazy? How can one man kill another and not really know the reason why he does it, except that the other man wears a different color uniform and speaks a different language?” A man named Ted Narracott buys a colt for 30 guineas when he was supposed to buy a horse for plough at an auction. Ted's son, Albert, names the horse Joey and grows to love him, protecting him when Ted is drunk. While with the Narracotts, Joey also meets Zoey, a horse who was a source of comfort to him, and whose name partially inspired his.