Here are 15 facts about Michael Morpurgo, the famous English children’s author. and Private Peaceful (2012). Born in 1943 Michael Morpurgo describes himself as 'oldish'. They have three children. present) ( 3 children). When Michael is washed up on an island in the Pacific after falling from his parent's yacht, the Peggy Sue, he struggles to survive on his own. https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/michael-morpurgo Private Peaceful was his 100th title. He is married to Claire Morpurgo MBE. Explore more than 33 'Michael Morpurgo' resources for teachers, parents and pupils as well as related resources on 'Michael Morpurgo Comprehension' Michael Morpurgo was born in St Albans, Hertfordhire on October 5th, 1943. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, Officers (Officers of the British Empire) or OBE's, Male Members of the Order of the British Empire (M), (? He is married to Claire Morpurgo MBE. It won the 1996 Nestl� Smarties Book Prize (Gold Award). These narratives reflect on the events of World War I, but they are not meant to be read as standard or traditional histories. The author of over 100 books, Michael Morpurgo is perhaps most famous for his novels for young adults, War Horse (1982) and Private Peaceful (2003). 2012 saw the release of the film adaptation of Morpurgo's War Horse, an exceptionally poignant story of one horse's experience in the First World War which was directed by Steven Spielberg. Other Works Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL, FKC, DL (born 5 October 1943, St Albans, Hertfordshire) is an English book author, poet, playwright, and librettist who is known best for children's novels such as War Horse (1982). He was the Booksellers Association Author of the Year in 2005. Published in 2003, Private Peaceful is a young-adult novel by English author Michael Morpurgo, notable for his children's book War Horse. Morpurgo was born in Hertfordshire; he received his childhood education in England and eventually enrolled at King's College, London, where he studied English and French. These narratives reflect on the events of World War I, but they are not meant to be read as standard or traditional histories. He was awarded Honorary Doctorates from Plymouth University, Exeter University and Hertfordshire University. After studying English and French at London University he took a job teaching primary school children and realised that the books on offer to them were sadly lacking in any real spark so he began to make up his own; something the children enjoyed so much so that this was what he decided he really wanted to do. Official Sites. He has written over 100 books. "The War Horse" in a National Theatre of Great Britain production in association with Handspring Puppet Company at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California was awarded the 2012 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation for Best Presented Production. He was Children's Laureate Author from 2003 to 2005. Then Ashley is captured. Eventually, Morpurgo became a primary school teacher, and in this role discovered his powers as a storyteller. Married to Clare, father to three children and grandfather to six he has written over 100 titles for children over the course of his career. In 1914, Joey, a young farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of th [...], Our rating: 9.2 | 136 positive reader reviews. After graduating from university, Michael became a primary school teacher in Kent. Morpurgo is noted for his "magical storytelling", for recurring themes such as the triumph of an outsider, survival, and characters' relationships with nature, and for vivid settings such as the Cornish coast or World War I. Short Biography. Copyright © 1999 - 2020 GradeSaver LLC. He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Children's Literature. Michael Morpurgo was born on October 5, 1943 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England as Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo. Wh [...], Our rating: 8.5 | 62 positive reader reviews, An exceptionally poignant story of one horse's experience in the First World War. He is a writer and actor, known for War Horse (2011), The Kites Are Flying! In addition to his writing, he is known for running the charity Farms for City Children alongside his wife Clare. He set up “Farms for City Children” charity with his wife Clare in 1976 after leaving his job as a teacher that he held for ten years. Michael Morpurgo was born on October 5, 1943 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England as Michael Andrew Bridge Morpurgo. He was awarded the France's "Chevalier Des Arts et Des Lettres" in 2004. He is an author in Devon, England. The book is written from the perspective of a soldier discussing his life experiences both before and during... War Horse is a children's novel set in Wartime Europe; the narrative concerns events from before the declaration of World War I to shortly after the Germans surrendered to the Allies. It won the 2005 Red House Children's Book Award and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the 2004 Whitbread Children's Book Award. Honoured with an MBE in 1999 then Children's Laureate from 2003-2005 and recipient of an OBE in 2006, Morpurgo is also a patron of countless charities, and in 1976 began, with his wife, the Farms For City Children charity which aims to relieve the experience of poverty in inner cities and urban areas by giving children the opportunity to live and work on a real farm for a week. Michael Morpurgo was born on 5th October 1943 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The Laureateship rewards a lifetime contribution to children's literature and highlights the importance of the role of children's books. |  The Butterfly Lion (1996) draws on the author's own unhappy experiences at boarding school, and is the story of a young boy who rescues an orphaned lion club from the African bush. Biography of Michael Morpurgo The author of over 100 books , Michael Morpurgo is perhaps most famous for his novels for young adults, War Horse (1982) and Private Peaceful (2003). 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