- Paperback: 181 pages
- Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd; New edition edition (1 Mar 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0749748508
- ISBN-13: 978-0749748500
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 x 1.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (386 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 184,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
War Horse
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Product Description
Sold to a drunken farmer, Joey, a beautiful red-bay foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, finds a friend in the farmer's son, Albert. His father brutally demands Joey work or be sold, so Albert gently trains him to pull the plough. But it's not enough. When war breaks out, Albert's father, needy for money for his struggling farm, sells Joey to the army, where he, like the soldiers around him, must try to cope with the horrors of the First World War. Joey and another thoroughbred horse, Topthorn, lead in a terrible cavalry charge towards the machine guns of the enemy's lines. Joey is captured by the Germans and for while he is lovingly cared for by Emilie, a young French girl and her grandfather. But he and Topthorn must pull a heavy gun, battling through the mud until Topthorn dies of exhaustion. Joey wanders in no man's land, back towards the British trench, but despite a joyful reunion with Albert, Joey is not out of danger. First tetanus threatens his life, and even then Emilie's grandfather has to bid to save him from the butcher. The old man promised his granddaughter when she died he would find the horse she loved and buy him, but recognising Albert's love for Joey, he sells Joey back to Albert on condition he will love for him all his life - for the princely sum of one English penny.
About the Author
Michael Morpurgo OBE is one of Britain's best loved writers for children. He has written over 100 books and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Whitbread Award and the Blue Peter Book Award.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I love it!,it's the best book I've ever read! It's sad good,exciting,and touching.
I'd recomend it to people who love adventure and who love animals. Charlotte age 8
I'd recomend it to people who love adventure and who love animals. Charlotte age 8
142 of 147 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hi I am only 10 but this is the best book i have read in 10 years.I love the story it can get sad at times and make you cry but it is very enjoyeble. This is a book for keeps a must read.if you like this book then you will also like Born to run.WAR HORSE IS THE BEST!!!!!!
392 of 408 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Set in three European countries where war hits hard in 1914, Morpurgo's book surprisingly puts its focus with a young horse, through whose eyes and mind the reader is familiarized with the atrocities of war as they unfold. While as a literary device this might appear cheap or far-fetched, here it functions in quite a unique way.
Whether witness, victim or participant, Joey (the horse) merely undergoes whilst observing without interacting by means of speech the way that humans would.
The restraint which the author imposes on his narrative in selecting this point of view just works wonders. The further into the story, the reader (whether adult or youngster) gradually conceives a growing sympathy with the war horse and ends up nearly identifying with his animal companion.
Along with Joey, he gets to interact with the people (civilian or military) who temporarily own him and gradually will, of his own account, make a distinction between the ones who approach him fairly or harshly. As he is dragged into the avalanche of warfare, he gets to make sense of the horse's gratitude and emotionality one way, and his pain or distress, another.
To cut (not such) a long story short, to say that Mr Morpurgo does perfect credit to whoever gets dragged into the nightmarish abyss of war at any time and any place, is no exaggeration. His understated style only adds to the qualities that characterize the book as it is.
Perfection is not of this world, so the word goes, but this one comes ever so close.
War horse is a gem. It is a must-read, and not just for young readers.
Read and understand why, at times, books are indispensable.
Whether witness, victim or participant, Joey (the horse) merely undergoes whilst observing without interacting by means of speech the way that humans would.
The restraint which the author imposes on his narrative in selecting this point of view just works wonders. The further into the story, the reader (whether adult or youngster) gradually conceives a growing sympathy with the war horse and ends up nearly identifying with his animal companion.
Along with Joey, he gets to interact with the people (civilian or military) who temporarily own him and gradually will, of his own account, make a distinction between the ones who approach him fairly or harshly. As he is dragged into the avalanche of warfare, he gets to make sense of the horse's gratitude and emotionality one way, and his pain or distress, another.
To cut (not such) a long story short, to say that Mr Morpurgo does perfect credit to whoever gets dragged into the nightmarish abyss of war at any time and any place, is no exaggeration. His understated style only adds to the qualities that characterize the book as it is.
Perfection is not of this world, so the word goes, but this one comes ever so close.
War horse is a gem. It is a must-read, and not just for young readers.
Read and understand why, at times, books are indispensable.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
My War Horse Review
we are reading this book in english at school and i think it is by far the best book i have ever read. Read more
Published 1 day ago by warbricksc
War Horse
What can I say, I thought this book was wonderful, the fact that it was the horse telling the story was exceptional, I am sure the film would not come across quite the same and I... Read more
Published 3 days ago by F. Whitham
I don't know what to say
The warhorse book I received was now a week later and still haven't got it but the movie was absolutely incredible .
Published 8 days ago by 1nd14
War Horse
My son loves listening to this at bedtime. The discs were in mint condition and arrived really quickly. If you like Morpugo then this is a good item to add to your collection. Read more
Published 10 days ago by valstartrek
Much better than the film, mostly.
Having seen the film I read the book. The film - though it has some grim scenes - left out some of the more harrowing stuff and was kind in the way it let your mind fill in the... Read more
Published 10 days ago by steve
War Horse. Michael Morpurgo
After reading reviews for this book,I was expecting a masterpiece and feel I will be standing alone in airing my disappointment. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Eileen
Poignant and Moving
Saw the movie first and then bought the book. It's written from the horse's point of view, in the style of Black Beauty, and is very well done. Read more
Published 15 days ago by McRanger
Amazing, hell and back adventure.
Review by Louis, aged 8.
Fabulous book because there were lots of people that come into the story and eventually they all link. Read more
Fabulous book because there were lots of people that come into the story and eventually they all link. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Dr and sons
War Horse
An Excellant book well writen,brings home the follishness of war and the great lose of so many young lives,bought as a supprise birthday present.
Published 26 days ago by Arthur
None
I bought this book on the strength of reviews for the stage play and film, never having read any other books by this author. Is it a childrens book? I found it far too simplistic! Read more
Published 29 days ago by Suze
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
