Michael Morpurgo

In 1976, Morpurgo married Clare, who was Sir Allen Lane’s eldest daughter. Sir Allen Lane was the founder of the publishing house ‘Penguin Books’. The couple is blessed with three children named Horatio, Sebastian and Rosalind.

Michael and his wife were inducted into the ‘Order of the British Empire’ in the year 1999, for their contribution towards the youth through their charity.

In 2006, this skilled writer was made ‘Officer of the Order of the British Empire’ (OBE) for his contribution to literature.

He was born on 5th October, 1943, to actor-director Tony Van Bridge and actress Kippe Cammaerts, in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. However, it took many years before he got to know about his biological father.

Tony’s absence during the World War II caused Kippe to tie the knot with Jack Morpurgo and Michael knew him to be his father and even adopted his surname.

He has an elder brother named Pieter Morpurgo, and also half siblings named David Cheyne, Shona Bridge and Peter Cheyne.

He received education from many institutions located in places like Canterbury, Sussex and London. He attended the ‘The King’s School’ and later, joined the ‘Royal Military Academy Sandhurst’.

In 1962, he and his mother were watching the movie ‘Great Expectations’, which starred Tony Bridge. This was when Michael learnt about his father.

After graduating from the ‘King’s College London’, he got employed at a primary school as a teacher where he narrated stories to his students. This story-telling exercise made him find the hidden story-teller in him and eventually, he embarked on his journey as an author.

One of his inspirations in writing was poet Ted Hughes who was also his friend, philosopher and guide. Other influences on his literary work were Paul Gallico, Ernest Hemingway and Seán Rafferty.

In 1974, he published his first book ‘It Never Rained: Five Stories’. This was followed by many other books such as 'Living Poets' (compiler with Clifford Simmons), 'Long Way from Home', 'Thatcher Jones', 'The Story-Teller' (compiler with Graham Barrett).

In 1976, the writer along with his wife Clare founded the charity named ‘Farms for City Children’. This charity sought to acquaint city children with the greenery of countryside farms and teach them farmyard work.

This organization has since grown its branches and established three more farms located in Wales, Gloucestershire and Devon. The number of children joining this farm has been increasing every year.

Most of his novels are award winning and highly acclaimed, one of them is his best-selling children’s novel ‘War Horse’ which narrates the story of a horse named Joey and its life during World War I. This has been adapted into a play by Nick Stafford and it has also been made into a movie by Steven Spielberg. Both the paly and the movie were met with huge success.

Another renowned book of this writer is ‘Private Peaceful and this book too revolves around World War I and brings forth the futility of war. This book earned many awards since its publication and has also been adapted into a play and also movie.