Storyteller loves world of words

Michael Morpurgo
Marquee at Phyllis Court
Sunday, October 12

SIR Michael Morpurgo, celebrated children’s author and former children’s laureate, drew a large and enthusiastic crowd for the talk about his latest book, More Tales From Shakespeare.

For many in the audience, and for me personally, he remains an inspirational figure in children’s literature, admired for his storytelling, creativity and the way he brings his tales to life for young readers.

Witty, self-deprecating and delightfully sarcastic, he held the attention of both children and adults, keeping the room laughing throughout. A lover of language, he described it as the greatest creation of humanity.

According to Michael, books and plays are about knowledge and understanding of the world, of different cultures and religions and of the environment. Without access to these insights through words, stories and language, he argued, our understanding of the world would be limited.

He explained that his goal with the book was to make Shakespeare’s stories accessible to today’s children, retelling them in language they could grasp without talking down to them.

Just as Shakespeare himself adapted and reimagined the tales and events of his time, Michael wanted to keep these timeless stories alive, capturing their drama while letting the language serve the story, not get in the way. He insisted that Shakespeare’s plays were meant to be experienced, to be seen, heard and felt.

“The point of a play,” he explained, “is that you believe it.” The magic, he said, comes from being swept along with the story, captivated by the characters and the drama. Morpurgo also reflected on his own early theatre experiences. Aged just seven years old, he and his brother Peter would race to the theatre in Stratford, ticket money in hand, given to them by their aunts. He fondly recalled being entranced by a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, caught up in the magical mayhem which unfolded on stage.

He was asked why he decided to write War Horse. Picking up on the word “decide”, Morpurgo explained that telling stories isn’t really a decision, it’s something that happens to you.

The inspiration for War Horse came from a conversation with a First World War veteran in a small pub, sat by the fire in Michael’s home village of Iddesleigh in Devon.

He shared the moving moment when the veteran revealed that he couldn’t speak to his fellow soldiers about the horrors and dread he experienced in the war, because they were all living it too.

Instead, each night he would go to his war horse and confide in him, finding comfort in the animal’s silent presence. When asked which of his own books was his favourite, Michael likened it to choosing a favourite child. It was impossible, he said, as different books appeal to him on different days. Touchingly, he added: “I love the books that people I love love.”

The final question of the session asked about his favourite book overall. He chose The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono, encouraging everyone to read it, a story he described as one that can be shared and passed down through generations. It was a fitting piece of wisdom to close a remarkable event.

Maya Lawton