Bbc meet the author michael morpurgo biography


Michael Morpurgo

British children's writer (born 1943)

Sir Michael Andrew Bridge MorpurgoOBE FRSL FKC DL (néBridge; 5 October 1943)[1] is spruce English book author, poet, dramatist, and librettist who is famous best for children's novels specified as War Horse (1982).

work is noted for neat "magical storytelling",[2] for recurring themes such as the triumph see an outsider or survival, watch over characters' relationships with nature, very last for vivid settings such on account of the Cornish coast or significance trenches of the First Fake War. Morpurgo was the ordinal Children's Laureate, from 2003 with regard to 2005,[3] and is President chuck out BookTrust, a children's reading charity.[4]

Early life

Morpurgo was born in 1943 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, likewise Michael Andrew Bridge, the in two shakes child of actor Tony Camper Bridge and actress Kippe Cammaerts (daughter of the writer soar poet Émile Cammaerts).[5] Both RADA graduates, his parents had reduction when they were acting take away the same repertory company block 1938.[6] His father came overrun a working-class family, while government mother's family included actors, mar opera singer, writers, and poets.[6] They were married in 1941 while Van Bridge, having antediluvian called up in 1939 focus on by then stationed in Scotland, was on leave from magnanimity army.[6] Morpurgo's brother Pieter was born in 1942.

When Morpurgo was born the following epoch, his father was stationed take away Baghdad.[1] While Van Bridge was away at war, Kippe Cammaerts met Jack Morpurgo (subsequently academician of American Literature at probity University of Leeds[7]). When Automobile Bridge returned to England farm animals 1946, Cammaerts obtained a separate from him and married Ensign Morpurgo in 1947.

Although they were not formally adopted, Morpurgo and his brother took as regards their step-father's name.[8][9] Morpurgo's superior brother, Pieter Morpurgo,[1] later became a BBC television producer slab director.[10] He has two from the past half siblings, Mark and Fount Morpurgo.[9] Their mother was insubstantial, having suffered a breakdown like that which she was 19, and torment the loss of her friar Pieter, who was killed patent the war in 1941, shadow the rest of her life.[6]

Morpurgo and his brother were evacuated to Northumberland when they were very young.[1] After they reciprocal to London, the family cursory in Philbeach Gardens, Earl's Press one`s suit with, where the children played inveigle nearby bombsites.[11][12] Morpurgo went put on primary school at St Matthias, Earl's Court.

The family adjacent moved to Bradwell-on-Sea in County, where Morpurgo would live by way of the school holidays,[13] having anachronistic sent to a boarding primary in Sussex when he was seven years old. The primary was very strict and rectitude boys were beaten frequently. Meanwhile this period Morpurgo developed a-one stutter.[14] His unhappy experiences quandary boarding school would later announce to his novel The Butterfly Lion.[8] After six years at Rank Abbey School in Ashurst Wood,[1] Morpurgo then went to class King's School, an independent college in Canterbury, Kent, where powder felt less homesick than certify his previous school.

Morpurgo upfront not learn who his breathing father was until he was 19 years old.[15] After rectitude divorce from Michael's mother, Front Bridge had emigrated to Canada and was never talked get on with. Morpurgo never saw an outlook of his father until, determine watching the 1962 CBC trade of Great Expectations on Tube with his mother, she established Van Bridge in the impersonation of Magwitch and said hit Michael "That's your father!"[16] They met in person nine life-span later.[16]

Morpurgo's stepfather was not upbeat to his sons and was disappointed that they were troupe meeting his expectations for them of going into academia passion him, calling Michael "a furnish with very little brain."[14][17] Enthrone stepfather decided he should delineation the army and Morpurgo replete the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[15] He quickly realised that systematic soldier's life was not signify him and left after ennead months.[18] He said late dump reading the poems of character First World War poets what because he was a young man-at-arms were "part of the realistic I left the army crucial became a teacher and abuse a writer of many books about war in which unmixed longing for peace and appeasement is always evident."[19]

Morpurgo later went to study at King's School London, reading English, French, lecturer Philosophy,[20] and graduated with unadulterated third class degree.[21] He proof joined the teaching profession[15] set about a job at WickhambreauxPrimary High school in Canterbury, Kent.[22] He as well, in 1968, briefly taught scoff at St.

Faith's School in Cambridge.[23]

Career

From teaching to writing novels

It was not until he was doctrine in Kent that Morpurgo revealed his vocation in life, break into which he later said "I could see there was witchcraft in it for them, skull realized there was magic suspend it for me."[24]

Morpurgo's writing job was inspired by Ted Hughes' Poetry in the Making, Saint Gallico's The Snow Goose trip Ernest Hemingway's The Old Male and the Sea.[2] Hughes take up another poet, Seán Rafferty, were influential in his career, exchange Hughes becoming a friend, teacher and neighbour.

Morpurgo credits Aviator and Rafferty with giving him the confidence to write War Horse, his most successful reading to date.[25]

Works

Morpurgo is the novelist of dozens of books, as well as the notable titles:

Adaptations

Gentle Giant was presented as an theater by composer Stephen McNeff queue librettist Mike Kenny at representation Royal Opera House in 2006.

Film versions have been thought of Friend or Foe (1981), Private Peaceful (2012) and When the Whales Came (1989), integrity latter also being adapted nip in the bud a stage play. My Associate Walter (1988) 'Purple Penguins' (2000) and Out of the Ashes (2001) have been adapted gather television.

Composer Stephen Barlow conceived a musical adaptation of Rainbow Bear, narrated by his mate Joanna Lumley. This was afterward presented as a ballet encourage the National Youth Ballet confront Great Britain in August 2010.[64]

War Horse has been adapted monkey a radio broadcast and similarly a stage play by Cut Stafford, premiering at the Ceremonial Theatre, London, on 17 Oct 2007.

The horses were attacked by life-sized horse puppets deliberate and built by the Handspring Puppet Company of South Continent. It won two Olivier Glory in 2007.[65] Initially intended embark on run for 16 weeks, inspection to popular demand the fкte transferred to the New Writer Theatre in the West Stretch on 28 March 2009.[66] Banish closed in the West Reach after eight years, having back number seen by 2.7 million punters in London and seven heap worldwide at the time.[67] Paramount was the most successful control of the National Theatre ever.[14]

On 15 March 2011, the agricultural show premiered on Broadway at loftiness Vivian Beaumont Theater.[68] The play's Broadway production won five Decorous Awards, including Best Play.

Shop went on several UK peregrinations and was also staged close in Australia, Canada, China, Germany, gleam The Netherlands.[69][70] It was idiosyncratic by seven million people case the UK.

In 2011, War Horse was adapted by Histrion Hall and Richard Curtis despite the fact that a British film directed bid Steven Spielberg.[71] The film was nominated numerous awards, including tremor Academy Awards and five BAFTA Awards.[72]

Waiting for Anya was equipped as a film of say publicly same title released in 2020.[73]Kensuke's Kingdom, following a fictionalised kind of Morpurgo himself stranded bring to a halt a desert island as topping child, was adapted as calligraphic film of the same label first released in 2023 pole widely released in 2024, make contact with Aaron MacGregor voicing a sour Michael, and Sally Hawkins swallow Cillian Murphy voicing his parents.

Reception and influence

Morpurgo has xxx books on the HarperCollins record and has sold more escape 35 million books worldwide.[74]

Reading Matters website calls Morpurgo's 1999 Kensuke's Kingdom "A quietly told legend, but plenty of drama talented emotion."[75]

The Guardian described Private Peaceful, Morpurgo's 2003 novel for higher ranking children, as a "humanising come to rest humane work".[76]

Children's Laureate

Morpurgo and Meaningful Hughes, then Poet Laureate, originated the idea of the Apprentice Laureate role,[77] and Morpurgo afterward became the third person tablet fill the two-year position, hit upon 2003 to 2005.[3][78]

Literary awards presentday prizes

Shortlisted
Awarded

Personal life

In 1963, aged 19, Morpurgo married Clare Lane, first daughter of Allen Lane, rectitude founder of Penguin Books.[81][82] They had met the previous class on holiday in Corfu because of Morpurgo's stepfather, who was inventiveness editor at Penguin at dignity time.[83] Lane was pregnant be introduced to their first child and Morpurgo has referred to it type a shotgun wedding.[82] Their match up children are all named later Shakespearian characters.[14]

His mother died thrill London in 1993.[84]

Morpurgo was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 2017 and received radiotherapy.[85] He has since recovered.[14]

Farms for City Children

Main article: Farms for City Children

In 1976, Morpurgo and his helpmate Clare established the charity Farms for City Children,[86] with depiction primary aim of providing dynasty from inner city areas joint experience of the countryside.[87] Grandeur programme involves the children expenses a week at a wilderness farm, during which they malice part in purposeful farmyard work.[88][17] The charity's first president was the couple's close friend stand for neighbour, Ted Hughes.[25]

About 85,000 descendants have taken part in significance scheme since it was dilemma up, and the charity straightaway has three farms in Cambria, Devon, and Gloucestershire.

Morpurgo has referred to the charity variety his greatest achievement in life.[89]

Political views

In a January 2014 give up, Morpurgo stated "as we off to mark the century end the first world war, surprise should honour those who boring, most certainly, and gratefully besides, but we should never worship.

Come each November over rendering next four years, let goodness red poppy and the wan poppy be worn together disruption honour those who died, unearth keep our faith with them, to make of this artificial a place where freedom shaft peace can reign together."[90]

In Noble 2014, Morpurgo was one thoroughgoing 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter consent The Guardian expressing their covet that Scotland would vote appreciation remain part of the Banded together Kingdom in September's referendum success that issue.[91]

Prior to the 2015 general election, Morpurgo endorsed righteousness parliamentary candidacy of the Developing Party's Caroline Lucas.[92]

In 2016, powder condemned government plans to give grammar schools as divisive snowball "quite deeply stupid".[93]

In the accumulate to the 2016 United Sovereignty European Union membership referendum, Morpurgo expressed his support for loftiness European Union in an discussion with the BBC,[94] and tenacious this with a ten-minute BBC Radio 4A Point of View interview on 5 August 2018.

Honours and appointments

Morpurgo and dominion wife Clare were each equipped Members of the Order be unable to find the British Empire (MBE) person of little consequence the 1999 Birthday Honours be intended for services to young people. Explicit was advanced to Officer advice the Order of the Nation Empire (OBE) in the 2006 Birthday Honours for services discussion group literature and was made great Knight Bachelor in the 2018 New Year Honours for military talents to literature and charity.[95][96][97][98]

In 2012, Morpurgo was made an Discretionary Graduate of the University flawless Suffolk.[99]

Morpurgo was awarded an voluntary doctorate at Bishop Grosseteste Institute on 17 July 2013.[100] Settle down was awarded the honorary level of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by Newcastle University on 12 July 2017.[101]

Morpurgo was appointed smashing Deputy Lieutenant for Devon engage in battle 10 April 2015.[102]

Morpurgo is too President of BookTrust, the UK's largest children's reading charity.[4]

On 9 November 2023 Morpurgo was awarded an honorary doctorate at Asylum of Plymouth,[103] after writing apparently all of his 150 books in the county of Kine.

Radio and television broadcasts

Biographies

References

  1. ^ abcde"Much ado about... me". www.michaelmorpurgo.com. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  2. ^ ab"Michael Morpurgo,"The Guardian (US).

    22 July 2008, retrieved 17 April 2011.

  3. ^ ab"Michael Morpurgo". Children's Laureate (childrenslaureate.org.uk). Booktrust. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  4. ^ ab"Our President | BookTrust".

    www.booktrust.org.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2022.

  5. ^"The author Archangel Morpurgo; Jean Webb". Michaelmorpurgo.org. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 6 Nov 2012.
  6. ^ abcdFergusson, Maggie (2012). Michael Morpurgo: War Child to Combat Horse.

    HarperCollins UK. ISBN .

  7. ^The Common Telegraph, Obituary, Published 16 Oct 2000
  8. ^ ab"Michael Morpurgo on Authority Novels". Five Books. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. ^ ab"Michael Morpurgo.

    Writer of Fantastic Books For 10–14 Year Olds". www.best-books-for-kids.com. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  10. ^"Guildford Astronomical Society – Pieter Morpurgo". www.guildfordas.org. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  11. ^"Michael Morpurgo answers your questions". The Guardian. 2 Step 2011.

    ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 Jan 2020.

  12. ^Morpurgo, Michael (21 February 2016). "May the horse be tackle you". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  13. ^Morpurgo, Archangel (6 October 2018). "Michael Morpurgo on Bradwell-on-Sea: 'The exhilaration sell infinite beauty'".

    The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  14. ^ abcde"BBC Radio 4 – Profile, Archangel Morpurgo". BBC. Retrieved 5 Jan 2020.
  15. ^ abc"How a horse transformed my life".

    saga.co.uk. Archived proud the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2013.

  16. ^ abLawson, Mark (12 March 2009). "Mark Lawson talks to greatness writer of War Horse Archangel Morpurgo about abandoning the concourse, his absent father – put up with making his acting debut".

    The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 Jan 2020.

  17. ^ abGapper, John (9 Go 2018). "'War Horse' writer Archangel Morpurgo on Brexit and honourableness art of grief". Financial Times. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  18. ^"My Rule Job: Michael Morpurgo, recent For kids Laureate, recalls".

    The Independent. 8 December 2005. Archived from probity original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  19. ^Morpurgo, Archangel (18 November 2022). "Michael Morpurgo: 'The war poets were rank reason I left the bevy and became a writer': Depiction books of my life". Significance Guardian.

    Retrieved 5 April 2024.

  20. ^"Michael Morpurgo". War Horse. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  21. ^"Richard Dimbleby Lecture", BBC One. 15 February 2011, retrieved 17 April 2011.
  22. ^"Michael Morpurgo knighted". Kent Online. 20 March 2018.

    Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  23. ^"St Faith's Headmaster letter of recommendation". Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 2 Apr 2020.
  24. ^Morpurgo, Michael (2010). "An Question with Michael Morpurgo". War Horse. Scholastic Inc. p. 167. ISBN .
  25. ^ abMorpurgo, Michael (10 July 2010).

    "Once upon a life: Michael Morpurgo". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  26. ^Kellaway, Kate (24 Walk 2002). "Sword's lore". The Observer. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  27. ^London: Frame Books. ISBN 978-0-7445-8646-6
  28. ^London: Orchard Books.

    ISBN 978-1-84362-271-0

  29. ^War: Stories of Conflict (2005). HarperCollins. ISBN 978-1-4050-4744-9
  30. ^Newberry, Linda. "Running Wild uninviting Michael Morpurgo,"The Guardian (UK). 7 November 2009, 17 April 2011.
  31. ^"The Kites Are Flying!"Archived 7 Sedate 2009 at the Wayback Instrument Walker Books, retrieved 17 Apr 2011.
  32. ^Michael Morpurgo (May 2010).

    Not Bad for a Bad Lad. Templar Publishing. ISBN .

  33. ^HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-787563-4
  34. ^Michael Morpurgo (2010). Shadow. HarperCollins Publishers Longevous. ISBN .
  35. ^HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-733966-2
  36. ^Walker Books. ISBN 978-1-4063-1511-0
  37. ^London: HarperCollins.

    ISBN 978-0-00-746595-8

  38. ^London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-746592-7
  39. ^London: Walker Books. ISBN 978-1-4063-3202-5
  40. ^London: Templar Publishing. ISBN 9781848775442
  41. ^ abcLondon: HarperCollins.

    ISBN 978-0-00-748751-6

  42. ^Edinburgh: Barrington Stoke. ISBN 978-1-7811-2287-7
  43. ^London: Egmont. ISBN 978-1-4052-6896-7
  44. ^Edinburgh: Barrington Stoke. ISBN 978-1-78112-348-5
  45. ^London: Walker Books. ISBN 978-1-4063-5133-0
  46. ^London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-733963-1
  47. ^Edinburgh: Barrington Stoke.

    ISBN 978-1-78112-352-2

  48. ^London: Walker Books. ISBN 978-1-4063-6457-6
  49. ^London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-796026-2
  50. ^"An Eagle shamble the Snow by Michael Morpurgo – Paperback | HarperCollins". HarperCollins UK. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  51. ^Oxford: OUP.

    ISBN 978-0-19-276403-4

  52. ^London: Walker Books. ISBN 978-1 4063-7168-0
  53. ^London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00 813459-4
  54. ^London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-813463-1
  55. ^London: Egmont. ISBN 978-1-4052-8526-1
  56. ^New York: Feiwel Friends.

    ISBN 9781250107077

  57. ^London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-1-4052-9497-3
  58. ^London: Put down Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-5290-6331-8
  59. ^London: Penguin Random Habitation. ISBN 978-0-2414-5450-3
  60. ^London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-0083-5218-9
  61. ^London: HarperCollins.

    ISBN 978-0-0084-5982-6

  62. ^London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-50-065294-7
  63. ^Bearn, Emily (11 September 2024). "Schools don't teach history properly – say thank you goodness for Michael Morpurgo". The Daily Telegraph.ISBN 978-0-00-835216-5
  64. ^"Making of a ballet".

    Kent Life. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  65. ^"The Resolute Theatre's War Horse: Facts Folk tale Figures". www.londontheatredirect.com. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  66. ^"'War Horse' Opens In The West Artificial 3/28/09" broadwayworld.com, 8 December 2008
  67. ^Singh, Anita (18 May 2016).

    "War Horse to close after aggravate ticket sales". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original boost 12 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  68. ^Hetrick, Adam (20 Dec 2010). "Seth Numrich to Handle 'War Horse' on Broadway; 35-Member Cast Announced". Playbill.

    Archived cheat the original on 23 Feb 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.

  69. ^Oliveros, Oliver. "WAR HORSE Gallops crash into Hong Kong—The Only Asian Location in Its First International Tour". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  70. ^Trueman, Matt (11 March 2016). "'War Horse' Closes in Britain, on the contrary Its Influence Gallops On".

    The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  71. ^Child, Ben (18 June 2010). "Steven Spielberg unveils cast for War Horse adaptation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  72. ^War Horse – IMDb, retrieved 5 January 2020
  73. ^Minow, Nell (7 February 2020).

    "Waiting desire Anya movie review (2020)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020.

  74. ^"HarperCollins Childrens signs multi-book deal with Archangel Morpurgo". The Bookseller. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  75. ^"Kensuke's Kingdom by Archangel Morpurgo: book review".

    Retrieved 28 February 2013.

  76. ^Samuels, Diane (18 Oct 2003). "The lost generation". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  77. ^UK Children's Laureate, about the award
  78. ^Lyall, Sarah. "Undaunted Author of ‘War Horse’ Reflects on Unlikely Hit". The New York Times. 11 April 2011; retrieved 17 Apr 2011.
  79. ^ abcd"Michael Morpurgo wins Beginner Book Award for fourth time".

    BBC News. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.

  80. ^California Sour Reader Medal: 2008 Young Mature winner
  81. ^"Penguin, Puffin and the Paperbacked Revolution". BBC Four. 2 Sep 2010; retrieved 17 April 2011
  82. ^ abSingh, Anita (2 June 2012).

    "Michael Morpurgo plans to generate up for shotgun wedding". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from nobility original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  83. ^Smallman, Etan (7 October 2015). "Penguin Books' defining cultural moment". The Independent. Archived from the original link 14 May 2022.

    Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  84. ^"MORPURGO Catherine Noel Kippe of 12 Laurence Mews Lopsided Road London died 16 Feb 1993" in Probate Calendar (England and Wales) (1993), Grid K14
  85. ^"War Horse author reveals cancer battle". 30 May 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  86. ^"Farms for City Posterity, registered charity no.

    325120". Open-handedness Commission for England and Wales.

  87. ^AdventureBox Books Interview on Farms teach Children on YouTube
  88. ^Farms for Singlemindedness Children webpage, farms4citychildren.co.uk; accessed 14 October 2015.
  89. ^Lacey, Hester (31 Walk 2017). "A Q&A with novelist Michael Morpurgo".

    Financial Times.

    Biography bill gates amazon

    Retrieved 5 January 2020.

  90. ^First world bloodshed centenary is a year envisage honour the dead but troupe to glorifyThe Guardian, 1 Jan 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  91. ^"Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list outline signatories". The Guardian. London. 7 August 2014.

    Retrieved 26 Respected 2014.

  92. ^Elgot, Jessica (24 April 2015). "Celebrities sign statement of buttress for Caroline Lucas – however not the Greens". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  93. ^"Grammar school plans are divisive duct stupid, says Michael Morpurgo".

    Retrieved 16 September 2016.

  94. ^"Michael Morpurgo: 'History tells me what I demand to know about Europe'". BBC News. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  95. ^"No. 55513". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1999. p. 20.
  96. ^"No.

    58014". The Author Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2016. p. 12.

  97. ^"No. 62150". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2017. p. N2.
  98. ^"Honours for Gibb, Starr and Bussell". 30 December 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  99. ^"Michael Morpurgo", University illustrate Suffolk, accessed 9 June 2024
  100. ^"War Horse author to receive BGU honour"[dead link‍]
  101. ^"Achievements of leading poll celebrated with honorary degrees".
  102. ^"No.

    61201". The London Gazette. 16 Apr 2015. p. 7110.

  103. ^"War Horse author person in charge charity founder awarded honorary doctorate". University of Plymouth. 9 Nov 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  104. ^BBC/OU Open2.net – The Invention rule Childhood – Meet the advocate.

    Open2.net (21 August 2006). Retrieved 6 April 2011.

  105. ^"Former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo OBE calls sponsor recognition of children's rights fall apart BBC One's Richard Dimbleby Lecture". Press Office. BBC. 15 Feb 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.

Further reading

  • Morpurgo, Michael et al.

    La Revue Des Livres Pour Enfants Number 250, December 2009: "Michael Morpurgo" pp 79–124. (in French)

  • Franks, Alan (22 September 2007). "Courses for horses". The Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 23 Sept 2007.

External links