Other Format
Times of War Collection
By Michael Morpurgo
A stunning paperback collection of classic Morpurgo novels set in World War I, World War II and the Afghanistan conflict.
Told in the voice of a young soldier, Private Peaceful follows twenty-four hours in his life at the front during WW I, capturing his memories as he looks back over his life. It’s both a love story and a deeply moving account of the horrors of the First World War.
In An Elephant in the Garden, Elizabeth’s father is fighting on the eastern front in WW II and her mother is working at Dresden zoo when the bombs start to fall. Their home destroyed, Elizabeth’s family must flee through the wintery landscape, avoiding the Russian troops who are drawing ever closer. It would be hard enough, without an elephant in tow…
Shadow is the story of Aman, a boy from Afghanistan fleeing the horror of war. A western dog shows up outside the caves where Aman lives with his mother. When they finally decide to make a bid for freedom, Shadow will not leave their side. The destinies of boy and dog are linked, always.
”Praise for Private Peaceful:'His [Tommo’s] journey from agricultural labourer to cannon fodder is movingly told…Michael Morpurgo is expert at getting through to his readers. He writes here about events that should never be forgotten nor forgiven, and does so most effectively.” - Independent
”'…full of warmth as well as grief, conveying vividly how precious it is to be alive…” - Sunday Times
”'The best novel he’s written since The Butterfly Lion.” - Times
”'Deserved to last as an insight into the First World War in the same way as, say, The Silver Sword or Goodnight Mr Tom.” - Telegraph
”'A poignant, elegiac novel.” - Daily Mail
”Praise for Shadow:'As ever, Morpurgo's warmth and humanity suffuse a story of courage, love and hope.” - Amanda Craig in the Times
”'Passionate and touching” - Julia Eccleshare