Jamila Gavin & Michael Morpurgo
First World War Stories
On Armistice Sunday, we’re honoured to welcome two distinguished children’s authors to talk about writing stories set during the First World War.
“My Soul, A Shining Tree”, the marvellous new children’s novel from Jamila Gavin, is based on the true story of Indian WW1 gunner and recipient of the Victoria Cross, Khudadad Khan. The story is told from four perspectives: Khan’s own, a German teenage cavalry soldier, Lotte a Belgian farmgirl, and that of the walnut tree which shelters them all.
Michael Morpurgo has a deep storytelling connection with the First World War through his books including “Poppy Field”, “An Eagle in the Snow” and “Private Peaceful”, as well as the renowned “War Horse” which has been adapted for the stage by the National Theatre and for the screen by Steven Spielberg. Told from the perspective of a young farm horse Joey, it follows his story as he is taken from Devon to the Western Front after being sold to the British Army in 1914.
