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War Horse Michael Morpurgo 9781405259415 Books

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War Horse Michael Morpurgo 9781405259415 Books

In the tradition begun by Black Beauty, the hero and narrator of this story is a horse. He cares about horse things: water, grass, doing his work well, and a kind master to work for.

He does not know what the different colored uniforms mean; he does not care if the person he is working for speaks English, French or German. He does not understand the forces in the human world that compel men to fight and kill one another.

This is the story of Joey, a Thoroughbred/draft horse cross who began life working for the son of a British farmer. Young Albert copes with his difficult and drunken father by training the young horse that his father bought at auction to spite a neighbor. Under Albert's loving tutelage, Joey learns to carry a rider and pull a plow.

But when war comes, Albert's father needs the money so Joey is sold to the army. And so begins the adventure of a lifetime for Joey. That first separation from Albert is the harbinger of many partings: the fortunes and misfortunes of war sweep Joey helplessly along. He's a horse caught in a world where machines are replacing horses and bringing new horrors and perils into the world. But while cavalry charges become discredited, horses are still needed to pull the big guns, the supply wagons and the ambulances. Machines can't cope with the mud and primitive roads of the era. Horses are also still needed by farmers.

Joey's story brings to life the hardship and suffering of the estimated six million horses that were pressed into service during World War I. It's a powerful, gut wrenching story because most of those horses never made it back to their original homes.

Some people would consider WAR HORSE by Michael Morpurgo to be an anti-war story. However, I found this story to be uplifting--Joey, despite all he suffers, retains his trust and love for human beings. He doesn't understand the war or any of the causes of his suffering, but he responds to the people who treat him kindly with love and loyalty. And he meets with many people who do their best to ease his suffering and to take care of him. In humanity and horsemanship, the world is redeemed. This is a wonderful story. Highly recommended. Soon to be a motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg.


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War Horse Michael Morpurgo 9781405259415 Books Reviews

[Comments refer to the stage play "War Horse" by Nick Stafford, which is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo]

"War Horse" is pure story-telling, a classic tale for children but, hey, it's going to cause any adult to choke up with emotion. Think "Old Yeller," by Fred Gipson, or Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' "The Yearling."

The stage play by Nick Stafford tells the story of Joey, a horse -- half thoroughbred, half hunter -- born shortly before the outbreak of WWI, separated from his mother while still a foal, raised in the Devon countryside in England by young Albert Narracott and sold to the English cavalry to fight alongside the doughboys in France.

Saying good-bye to his beloved horse, Albert vows "I want you to do yourself proud. You go and drive those Germans back home, and then you come home. I promise you, Joey, that we shall be together again . . . I, Albert Narracott, do solemnly swear that we shall be together again."

Although too young to enlist, Albert, 16, lies about his age and sets out to find Joey and bring the horse home to the fields of Devon.

A caveat This paperback by Nick Stafford is the stage adaptation of the novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo. The National Theatre in London gave the play its premier in 2007. The same production, in association with the Handspring Puppet Company, is scheduled to open at Lincoln Center in New York in the spring of 2011. Steven Spielberg is directing a movie of the book which is scheduled to premier December 2011.

With that caveat in mind, for me the question then becomes does it make sense to read the play before seeing the "War Horse" stage production or before sitting down in a dark movie theater with a box of popcorn and watching the action unfold on the big screen.

By reading the play beforehand, you'll know the story and how it ends. But it's a fantastically compelling story that has traction enough to be retold and retold without diminishing its emotional wallop.

The value of reading the play before seeing the production is that you create Joey and his world in your imagination. Seeing what you've conjured in your mind's eye and how that compares to what happens on stage or in the movie theater is, for me at least, a pleasure all in its own right. Think of reading "Lord of the Rings" and then seeing the trilogy on screen. Reading "Gone With the Wind" before watching the classic movie.

For me, reading the play or book first; seeing the movie after, enriches the entire experience. My advice, get to know Joey and his story as soon as you can; then make plans to see the play and go to the movie.

[4.5 stars]
This has been an interesting day in that I saw the preview for the film, 'War Horse', and being so moved by that, I had to read the book. I downloaded it to my iPad and proceeded to read it in one sitting, taking time out only to eat dinner. I will not go into a lengthy review, as there are plenty of good reviews of that type already available. I will say that this book has moved me in ways that quite possibly no other book has managed previously. 'War Horse' achieves four things for me, and achieves them in a most brilliant fashion 1) It is extremely well-written (there is something about the style that reminds me of my favourite author, Hermann Hesse), contains outstanding character development, and seamlessly incorporates the other three achievements to which I refer; 2) It speaks of the futility and madness of war, several times bringing to mind scenes from 'All Quiet on the Western Front' (1930); 3) It deals with horses, and while containing some elements that were difficult to read due to my all too visual mind, it is realistic yet hopeful and inspiring; 4) It is set during an historical event and is believable in its settings. I experienced every emotion while reading this, and became attached to its characters, as though they were old friends. There's not much more you can ask for from a book than that. I have a distinct feeling that this was only the first time I will have read 'War Horse', as I suspect I will revisit Joey, Albert, Topthorn and the others many more times.
In the tradition begun by Black Beauty, the hero and narrator of this story is a horse. He cares about horse things water, grass, doing his work well, and a kind master to work for.

He does not know what the different colored uniforms mean; he does not care if the person he is working for speaks English, French or German. He does not understand the forces in the human world that compel men to fight and kill one another.

This is the story of Joey, a Thoroughbred/draft horse cross who began life working for the son of a British farmer. Young Albert copes with his difficult and drunken father by training the young horse that his father bought at auction to spite a neighbor. Under Albert's loving tutelage, Joey learns to carry a rider and pull a plow.

But when war comes, Albert's father needs the money so Joey is sold to the army. And so begins the adventure of a lifetime for Joey. That first separation from Albert is the harbinger of many partings the fortunes and misfortunes of war sweep Joey helplessly along. He's a horse caught in a world where machines are replacing horses and bringing new horrors and perils into the world. But while cavalry charges become discredited, horses are still needed to pull the big guns, the supply wagons and the ambulances. Machines can't cope with the mud and primitive roads of the era. Horses are also still needed by farmers.

Joey's story brings to life the hardship and suffering of the estimated six million horses that were pressed into service during World War I. It's a powerful, gut wrenching story because most of those horses never made it back to their original homes.

Some people would consider WAR HORSE by Michael Morpurgo to be an anti-war story. However, I found this story to be uplifting--Joey, despite all he suffers, retains his trust and love for human beings. He doesn't understand the war or any of the causes of his suffering, but he responds to the people who treat him kindly with love and loyalty. And he meets with many people who do their best to ease his suffering and to take care of him. In humanity and horsemanship, the world is redeemed. This is a wonderful story. Highly recommended. Soon to be a motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg.