Michael Morpurgo

Private Peaceful

Lacklustre adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel

This adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel has a tough act to follow, telling a story that takes place in the same setting as War Horse (rural England during the First World War), the Morpurgo classic that was recently adapted in sweeping style by…

Edinburgh International Book Festival: Highlights

Seamus Heaney, Michael Morpurgo, Irvine Welsh, Nile Rodgers and more

Seamus Heaney The Nobel prizewinner is in town for what will be an undoubted highlight of the month (if not the year) as he chews some literary fat with Karl Miller and Andrew O’Hagan. See online feature at list.co.uk/festival. 3-18 Aug, 6.30pm, £10…

War Horse

Unashamedly sentimental cinema from Spielberg

(12A) 146m As War Horse begins, with soaring shots of rolling English hills and a sweeping John Williams overture, director Steven Spielberg sends a clear message: settle down for some large-canvas, unashamedly romanticised, old-fashioned big-screen…

Top children's books on sale for Christmas

New titles from Jacqueline Wilson, Julia Donaldson, Francesca Simon and David Walliams

While the December market is traditionally slow for adult fiction, when it comes to kids books, it’s a ripe old time of year. This winter there are books from some familiar names and favourite characters which won’t look bad popping out of a woolly…

Lennoxlove Book Festival

Michael Morpurgo, Alistair Darling, James Naughtie and Julia Donaldson among highlights

Set in the East Lothian woodlands is a five-star luxury accommodation dubbed by Historic Scotland as one of the country’s ‘most ancient and notable houses’. While renowned for its golfing breaks and wedding parties, Lennoxlove (full name: ‘Lennox’s Love…

Farm Boy

Country tale in need of a jump start

Two men, Grandpa and Grandson, share the stage with a green Fordson tractor and a toolbox. The men weave stories that link four generations, covering the period in farming history where tractors took over from horses, and culminate in a hare versus…

Kids Events at the Book Festival

The events and authors for the younger generation

Old favourites for kids include Michael Morpurgo (22 Aug), Malorie Blackman (22 Aug), Jacqueline Wilson (23 Aug), Anne Fine (23 Aug), Julia Donaldson (24 Aug), and Terry Deary of horrible history stardom (28 Aug), but there’s a whole lucky-dip of events…

Private Peaceful

All’s not fair in love and war

This one-man show, performed by Finn Hanlon and adapted by director Simon Reade from Michael Morpurgo’s novel, questions why over 300 British soldiers were executed for perceived cowardliness or desertion during World War I, through the character of an…

The Mozart Question - Kids theatre

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Over the last couple of years, Fringe audiences have wept at his stories. Kelly Apter finds former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo continuing that tearful trend with a sad tale from World War II Michael Morpurgo is standing on a sun-drenched…

Aesop's Fables

Many children’s shows profess to be ‘adult friendly’, but few deliver to the same degree as this hugely enjoyable new production. Written by former children’s laureate, Michael Morporgo, Aesop’s timeless fables have been fleshed out into sharp, witty…