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Michael Morpurgo: War Child to War Horse
Paperback. Pub Date :2013-08-29 440 English HarperCollins Childrens Books Justine Picardie has spent the last decade puzzling over the truth about Coco Chanel. attempting to peel away the accretions of romance and lies In this critically acclaimed. bestselling biography she shares the history of the incredible woman who created the way we look now.Coco Chanel was an extraordinary inventor - she conjured up the little black dress. bobbed hair. trousers for women. contemporary chic. best-selling perfumes. and the most successful fashion brand of all time - but she also invented herself. fashioning the myth of her own life with the same dexterity as her couture.While Chanel was supreme innovator and vendor of all things elegant and beautiful. what lies beneath her own glossy myth is far darker. Throwing new light on her passionate and turbulent rela...
440 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 25, 2013
Michael Morpurgo's books have had a huge influence on me throughout my years of reading, right up to and continuing into the present and future.
Running Wild, Best Mate, Why the Whales Came, Shadow, The White Horse of Zennor, Private Peaceful, Sparrow............ just a few of his books that had the biggest effect on me and my life. I read some of these this year, last year, the year before that, two years ago, three years ago, four years ago, five years ago and before. The fact that I can still remember so many of these proves how awesome a writer Morpurgo is, and reading his biography revealed a whole lot about him and how he never has really enjoyed writing stories.
This makes one wonder; why would he continue to write after all these years of disliking it and being unhappy? I got the impression from the book that he wrote because he loved seeing the joy on people's faces as they talked to him about his book, and young kids as they read them.
I decided to read War Child to War Horse because I have loved Morpurgo's books so much over the years. I remember that all throughout my primary and intermediate years at my school, Rosa and I would wind our way through the library to the exact part of the shelf where many, so many of Morpurgo's books were held. It began a sort of competition to see who could read all of his books first........
This book fits (obviously) into the biography category of the bingo board. This category is quite interesting as it reveals a whole lot about someone you admire when you read their biography.
My favourite quote would be;
"For me, the greater part of writing is daydreaming, dreaming the dream of my story until it hatches out - the writing down of it I always find hard. But I love finishing it, then holding the book in my hand and sharing my dream with my readers."
This quote outlines what I said before about he continues to write if he dislikes it so much. I love this quote because I can relate to it about my own writing strategy.
Something new I learnt from this book.... well, I learnt that authors can have as much to learn from their books as their readers.
Running Wild, Best Mate, Why the Whales Came, Shadow, The White Horse of Zennor, Private Peaceful, Sparrow............ just a few of his books that had the biggest effect on me and my life. I read some of these this year, last year, the year before that, two years ago, three years ago, four years ago, five years ago and before. The fact that I can still remember so many of these proves how awesome a writer Morpurgo is, and reading his biography revealed a whole lot about him and how he never has really enjoyed writing stories.
This makes one wonder; why would he continue to write after all these years of disliking it and being unhappy? I got the impression from the book that he wrote because he loved seeing the joy on people's faces as they talked to him about his book, and young kids as they read them.
I decided to read War Child to War Horse because I have loved Morpurgo's books so much over the years. I remember that all throughout my primary and intermediate years at my school, Rosa and I would wind our way through the library to the exact part of the shelf where many, so many of Morpurgo's books were held. It began a sort of competition to see who could read all of his books first........
This book fits (obviously) into the biography category of the bingo board. This category is quite interesting as it reveals a whole lot about someone you admire when you read their biography.
My favourite quote would be;
"For me, the greater part of writing is daydreaming, dreaming the dream of my story until it hatches out - the writing down of it I always find hard. But I love finishing it, then holding the book in my hand and sharing my dream with my readers."
This quote outlines what I said before about he continues to write if he dislikes it so much. I love this quote because I can relate to it about my own writing strategy.
Something new I learnt from this book.... well, I learnt that authors can have as much to learn from their books as their readers.
September 1, 2024
While I can respect the authorship of Morpurgo, he is a published author of several books with interesting titles, yet I was not a fan of the organization and outline by the author (Maggie Fergusson) of the story of Morpurgo's life. He was a golden boy in so many ways and well-deservedly. But I felt the actual telling of his life by the author was bare bones. And with excerpts from Morpurgo's books sandwiched in between chapters, it seemed more of a way of fleshing out the book than in giving any real substance to his life.
July 26, 2017
I had no intention of borrowing a book when I visited the library on this occasion . ...but this one caught my eye while I was waiting for the paper jam in the photocopier to be fixed and I couldn't resist. I don't really read a lot of biographies but I enjoyed this one as I love Michael Morpurgo's work and it was very interesting to learn more about the man behind possibly some of the greatest children's books currently being produced in my opinion!
September 16, 2017
I listened to this biography and enjoyed the style of chapters that were biographical laced with stories from Michael. It reminded me of seeing War Horse on stage at the Lincoln center in New York in 2011, and being mesmerized by it. Finlay and I read Kensuke's Kingdom together and I recall that fondly. Now I want to scoop up all the other stories I might have missed.
March 5, 2019
I’ve enjoyed reading many of Michaels’beautifully written stories ... after reading this autobiography it enabled me to see how this remarkable man shaped and Moulder his amazing talent . If you enjoy his magical stories this book is well forth s read
June 24, 2017
A fascinating story of a fascinating, variety filled life. A wonderful and encouraging example of perseverance and determination to achieve one's dreams.
August 27, 2017
An absolutely delightful and moving insight into the life of my favourite author.
February 18, 2024
Fascinating biography about this brilliant writer.
March 3, 2024
What a lovely man! Worth a read!
March 20, 2014
The love of stories sings out from the pages of this biography and, sometimes, the difficulty of getting them right (and written). But Michael Morpurgo: War Child to War Horse isn't entirely a biography: the book is divided into seven chapters, each of which begins with one of Maggie Fergusson's lyrical biographical pieces which depict different aspects and events from Morpurgo's life, but each chapter concludes with one of Morpurgo's stories. It's a combination that deftly shows how Morpurgo's stories are rooted in his experience of life and its strangeness (ghosts and visions) and the feelings that arose (and were, for a time, buried) as a result of what happened to him. Morpurgo's great sense of the need for, and his own desire for, reconciliation runs through the book like an underground river while, through the air of the book, his love of telling stories blows. He thinks of himself as a storymaker rather than a writer: he loves an audience and they, the children he has taught and read to, love him: some of their heartwarmingly transformational reactions to his stories are related in this book.
Morpurgo's love of words began with the stories his mother read to him: Zanzibar and Marzipan; the great grey green greasy Limpopo river and the glorious nonsense of Edward Lear's limericks. He writes that he and his brother Piet 'Soared on the wings of your [his mother's] words'. But she also terrified him with her interpretation of Macbeth's Three Witches and so he learnt the value of both beauty and horror - and, for him, their need to be accompanied by reconciliation - in a story.
Fergusson writes, 'Morpurgo, in an adapation of CS Lewis's words, "Writes to know he is not alone".' And that shines through this book. He hopes the best of him [he is in his early seventies] will live on in his stories and when he chooses the pieces he'd like to be remembered for he doesn't choose whole stories, but scenes within stories. And that makes such sense: I doubt there's a writer in the world who thinks a whole piece is good enough to be remembered for, but there are always scenes that stay close to a writer's heart and the ones Morpurgo would like to be remembered for are always scenes of reconciliation. When Fergusson asked him what piece of wisdom he would most like to hand on to his grandchildren, Morpurgo said
Morpurgo's love of words began with the stories his mother read to him: Zanzibar and Marzipan; the great grey green greasy Limpopo river and the glorious nonsense of Edward Lear's limericks. He writes that he and his brother Piet 'Soared on the wings of your [his mother's] words'. But she also terrified him with her interpretation of Macbeth's Three Witches and so he learnt the value of both beauty and horror - and, for him, their need to be accompanied by reconciliation - in a story.
Fergusson writes, 'Morpurgo, in an adapation of CS Lewis's words, "Writes to know he is not alone".' And that shines through this book. He hopes the best of him [he is in his early seventies] will live on in his stories and when he chooses the pieces he'd like to be remembered for he doesn't choose whole stories, but scenes within stories. And that makes such sense: I doubt there's a writer in the world who thinks a whole piece is good enough to be remembered for, but there are always scenes that stay close to a writer's heart and the ones Morpurgo would like to be remembered for are always scenes of reconciliation. When Fergusson asked him what piece of wisdom he would most like to hand on to his grandchildren, Morpurgo said
That joy is to be found not in receiving, but in giving - the giving of yourself.
August 29, 2012
Michael Morpurgo, is one of my favourite authors, this was a really interesting read to get to know a little about the man, behind such best sellers such as War Horse. He had a difficult upbringing his parents split up when he was young and he was brought up by his step father Jack Morpurgo, who was a control freak,his mother became an alcoholic to cope with her life. Michael always wanted to write but seemed to be a lost soul not knowing how to go about it and taking several teaching jobs while working on it. He married young, into the "Lane" family founder of penguin books, another added pressure to keep a young family while being helped by his wife's family not great for a young mans ego. He started to have books published but it was more of a slow burn then massive success at first.The interesting thing was his founding of the charity farms for inner city kids to come and live in the country for a week to get away from unsavoury situations at home and how much effort and time he and his wife put into these organisations. This seemed to take its toll on his home life and he did not have a good relationship with his sons, something he looks back on regret in the book but has tried to remedy this with his Grandchildren. The book charts the sucess of War Horse which was written several years before the huge success it has become and was turned down by several publishers !!It also tells of his year as the first childrens Laureate a position he and his friend the poet Ted Hughes gathered support for and helped into being. When you see the list of books and also how many of his books have been filmed you realise the scope of the man, and when you read this book you see too how threads of his own life have been used in his stories.
February 11, 2017
Chapters of biography alternate by original Morpurgo stories relating to the content of the chapter. It is clear that his celebrity over the last decade was not always enjoyed, and his earlier struggles are described. The psycho-analysis of the biography dos not photoshop - what you see is what you get, and it reveals MM as a complex character. Early writing was greatly assisted by money received from his father-in-law Allen Lane of Penguin Books. The role of his wife Clare is highlighted, especially in the success of his Farms for City Children. Tensions clearly affected his own children, who did not tell their stories to the biographer.
December 23, 2012
Not simply a biography of Michael Morpurgo, who was born Michael Bridge. Also included are seven original stories, all of them quite different in tone to Morpurgo's usual blend of multi-generational tales with his trademark framing device.
The first and last of these stories are the most haunting. The first takes the form of a confessional letter, written to his mother. It's about the fire that consumed the basement at home and the old love letters he and his brother used to start it. Not that they were intending to burn the house: they'd found a cauldron and the inspiration of their mother's play-acting the three witches from Macbeth just called to their imaginations.
The last story of a planned reconciliation between a father and son builds to a slow crescendo as it becomes clear where and when the meeting is timed. It would totally spoil the story to reveal any more than that.
Morpurgo is the writer who has 'six selves', the children's laureate who was also passionately involved in setting up the charity Farms for City Children.
It's an enthralling account of a life suffused with blessing and a passion to pass it on. It also at times raises the question of what-might-have-been.
The first and last of these stories are the most haunting. The first takes the form of a confessional letter, written to his mother. It's about the fire that consumed the basement at home and the old love letters he and his brother used to start it. Not that they were intending to burn the house: they'd found a cauldron and the inspiration of their mother's play-acting the three witches from Macbeth just called to their imaginations.
The last story of a planned reconciliation between a father and son builds to a slow crescendo as it becomes clear where and when the meeting is timed. It would totally spoil the story to reveal any more than that.
Morpurgo is the writer who has 'six selves', the children's laureate who was also passionately involved in setting up the charity Farms for City Children.
It's an enthralling account of a life suffused with blessing and a passion to pass it on. It also at times raises the question of what-might-have-been.
November 24, 2013
Insightful biography about the life of children's author and former Children's Laureate. I enjoyed the variety of voices heard in this book, people from his life as well as the author himself as the author of the biography worked in collaboration with Morpurgo on this book. He provided a number of new stories for this book. It surprised me to realize how little I knew about the author and what a very different idea I had about him as a person. Having read this biography, was eye-opening and made me understand his writing so much better. Highly recommended read! (This is an adult biography. For my primary students, I recommend you check out the children's biography we have in our library if you would like to find out more about the author or check the many resources compiled on our Library2clicks page.)
February 22, 2014
A Biography of Michael Morpurgo -War child to war horse by Maggie Fergusson – Could be read and appreciated by any people who enjoy books by Michael Morpurgo – 5th grade and up – Fascinating life story following Michael Morpurgo’s family, his childhood, and growth and development of his ideas and writing. Really enjoyed gaining insight and understandings that make me appreciate his ideas even more. Quote: “One of the first lessons I learned as a teacher,” Michael says, “is that children like to be talked to truthfully. And the truth is that we live in a slough of despond. You’d have to walk about with your eyes closed not to see all around you the effects of greed and selfishness on people’s lives. The trick is to see the joy as well. But to understand joy, you have first to acknowledge suffering. They can’t be separated.”
December 25, 2015
I've loved Morpurgo's books ever since I was first introduced to War Horse in Scotland about twelve years ago, but didn't know much about the man. This book is the perfect blend of biography and what I'll call pseudo-fiction, as many of the stories included were heavily inspired by true events. Fergusson was the perfect choice to write about Morpurgo: her prose is simple, but perfect, and reminiscent of Morpurgo's style. The story is sensitively and lovingly told, and I found that I didn't want to put the book down. M.M. remains a bit of a man of mystery, but I came away with a better understanding of his literary inspirations. One of the best biographies I've read.
December 10, 2013
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book when the librarian on my local library bus suggested it but it has easily been one of the most addictive books I've read all year.
It tells the story of Michael Morpurgo from a young child to the present day and at the end of each chapter is a story written by Michael himself.
As a result of reading this, I've found myself raiding my children's bookshelves in order to read some of his books as the background to them is so interesting and you get a real insight into the author's mind.Great book and I thoroughly recommend it!
It tells the story of Michael Morpurgo from a young child to the present day and at the end of each chapter is a story written by Michael himself.
As a result of reading this, I've found myself raiding my children's bookshelves in order to read some of his books as the background to them is so interesting and you get a real insight into the author's mind.Great book and I thoroughly recommend it!
October 7, 2015
An interesting approach to a biography as this includes short-stories from Morpurgo as his own commentary on the story of his life. Morpurgo came across as a complex character with huge, almost terrifying, drive and energy, but also something slightly uncontrolled running through it which has resulted in hurt and sadness. Clare Morpurgo definitely comes across as the unsung hero, holding things in balance and within bounds, permitting her husband to reach levels of success he would never have achieved on his own.
September 16, 2014
Don't really know where to place this book. It's doesn't fit in the kids lit category (mine definatly not have an interest), YA? Not compared to the thousands I have read. Which leaves adult - hmm. It appealed to me as a mother of children who love his books, and a wanna be writer but even then, the short stories lacked appeal.
I so wanted to be a fan of this book. But saying that I did enjoy reading about michaels inspiration and childhood.
I so wanted to be a fan of this book. But saying that I did enjoy reading about michaels inspiration and childhood.
January 25, 2015
I was really amazed what I learnt about this author. I do enjoy reading his books. Lots of boys at our school read his books.
I was very impressed at the things he has done with his wife with children. Also all the amazing things that have happened with his book called War Horse. He is a very talented man, who I don't think he realizes he is.
I was very impressed at the things he has done with his wife with children. Also all the amazing things that have happened with his book called War Horse. He is a very talented man, who I don't think he realizes he is.
March 14, 2015
I didn't know Morpurgo's books that well before I read this and my first impressions were not that brilliant, the first third of this book gave me an impression of laziness to be honest! I slowly became excited to read his books when I saw that they seem to be based on his own experiences and hard work. Reading this has prompted a huge Morpurgo reading fest by the kids in my library.
January 15, 2015
I like Morpurgo's books and the students in my classes like listening to his books when I read these to them. I also like biographies and this one is a bit different as at the end of each section, Morpurgo wrote a short story to accompany the previous information about his life.
November 20, 2012
Absolutely amazing read. Brilliant insight in to the man himself. also recommend any going to see him do a talk!
November 3, 2013
Fascinating account of Michael Morpurgo's life to date, with photos.
December 1, 2013
Very interesting insight into the man and what shaped him. The original stories offer insight into his life as well. Good read and accessible to pupils too.
April 15, 2014
In "seven ages" you can find Michael Morpurgo's life. Before reading this book a question used to haunt me why the books are sad always and sometimes tragic ends, now I found the answer.
November 27, 2014
Maggie Ferguson has really captured the life of the man who will best be remembered for War Horse.
August 16, 2014
An insightful look into what shaped the life of the man who gave us War Horse.And his unsung work with children.
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September 18, 2016Interesting to combine biography with a series of stories written by Michael Morpurgo himself.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews