facts about Michael Morpurgo Archives

War Horse: Facts About Michael Morpurgo’s World War 1 Novel

James 9 Comments

Here are some facts about War Horse by Michael Morpurgo.

War Horse was first published in 1982 by Kaye & Ward.
The novel is written from the point of view of Joey, a horse bought by the Army to serve in World War 1. It describes Joey’s experiences, and details how Albert, Joey’s former owner, tries to bring him home safely from France.

Michael Morpurgo says three men inspired the story idea that eventually became War Horse. Wilfred Ellis, a World War 1 veteran, told Michael Morpurgo what is was like to work with horses in the Devon Yeomanry. Captain Budgett, another World War 1 vet, told Michael all about WW1 cavalry, and Albert Weeks, from Iddesleigh, talked to Michael about how the Army had come through the village buying horses for the war effort.
He was also inspired by a harrowing World War 1 painting showing WW1 horses charging into barbed wire as they approached the German lines.

War Horse was adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford. The play was first staged at the Olivier Theatre in 2007. It used life-size puppets to portray the horses.
War Horse has also been turned into a movie. The screenplay was written by Richard Curtis and Lee Hall, and it was directed by Steven Spielberg. It was released on 25th December 2011.
The book was runner-up for the 1982 Whitbread Book Award.
It is estimated that nearly one million British horses died during World War 1, and perhaps as many as 10 million horses lost their lives during the entire conflict.
In 2008, War Horse was adapted for the radio. The broadcast featured the voices of Timothy Spall, Bob Hoskins and Brenda Blethyn.

James 72 Comments

Here are 15 facts about Michael Morpurgo, the famous English children’s author.

After graduating from university, Michael became a primary school teacher in Kent.
He writes all of his books in exercise books. He doesn’t work on a desk, instead he sits on his bed, propped up with pillows.
His favourite animals are elephants.
Some of his favourite authors include: Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling and Ted Hughes.
He dislikes the process of editing and rewriting.
Michael Morpurgo enjoys watching TV. He particularly likes documentaries.
Michael set up the Farms for City Children project with his wife, Clare. It gives deprived urban children a chance to work on a farm and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors in the countryside.
Michael was given an OBE in 2006.
In 2003 he became the Children’s Laureate, becoming the third person to fulfill the role.
He has three children: Sebastian, Horatio and Rosalind, and several grandchildren.
He likes listening to Mozart, but he can only write in a silent room.
Michael loved French at school and he went on to study this subject at university.
He likes eating prawns.

Here is a list of some of Michael’s most well-known books.

What next? Discover some more information about Michael Morpurgo’s writing methods.