Product Description

Heroism or cowardice? A stunning story of the First World War from a master storyteller. Told in the voice of a young soldier, the story follows 24 hours in his life at the front during WW1, and captures his memories as he looks back over his life. Full of stunningly researched detail and engrossing atmosphere, the book leads to a dramatic and moving conclusion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #691 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 192 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Longer novels from Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo are always a particular treat, and Private Peaceful is no exception. Tragic, surprising and engaging in equal measures, Morpurgo's novel charts both the childhood of young Thomas Peaceful in the early years of the 20th century, and his eventual underage enlistment in the British army to help fight the First World War.

It is, above all, a poignant story of war and about all of its many life-changing effects on those involved--also the brutality of the commanding regimes and the relentless squalor of trench warfare. It's not for the squeamish--Morpurgo tells it like it was and his honest insight is on every page for all to appreciate.

"Tommo" Peaceful is recalling his childhood from those terrible battlefields. He remembers his big brother Charlie taking him to his first day of school, the death of his father, his mum working hard to keep a roof over their heads and food on their table. He remembers his brother Joe, who some called simple, but who to Tommo was very special. He also recalls the only girl in his life, Molly, and how Charlie somehow took her away from him. But as the World turned to War, he had to grow up fast. Together Charlie and Tommo enlist and are sent to France, almost immediately, to what could only be described as pure hell on Earth. Bullets, bombs, death. Shells, noise, dirt. Disease, rats, stench. Charlie and Tommo fight for their lives and to stay together--facing certain death in the face every time they try to advance the British lines.

Morpurgo rattles through his narrative at some speed, gracefully capturing both the horror of war and the ecstasy of life. The ending is shocking and memorable. This is difficult, emotionally draining but highly recommended reading. (Recommended for ages 10 and over.) --John McLay

Guardian
The style is simple and eloquent, the pace as gentle as it is persistent and ominous.

Sunday Times
`Full of warmth as well as grief, conveying vividly how precious it is to be alive.'

Customer Reviews

Best Book Ever!!!
This book is apsolututely brilliant! I couldn't put it down! Set in WW2, it is an exciting, but very sad story, of 2 brothers. A definite read for everyone! Morpurgo's best!!!

Thoroughly enjoyable...
Though written for children, and being a grown up :o), I found this tale wonderfully written and very powerful.
Narrated from the trenches of WWI by Tommo Peaceful, the story is set over just a few hours with an intriguing insight into what the future holds at the start of every chapter. Jumping backwards and forwards in time is a style I love anyway and that is what makes this book what it is - it is not a complexly layered plot that keeps you entertained, the writing is enough to do that and I read it from cover to cover in just a few hours.
I will most definately be reading it to my son in a few years time!

Another fantastic Morpurgo book
Read this book as I am about to teach "stories with historical settings" to my class. Once again Michael Morpurgo failed to disappoint. The book made me laugh and cry and there's a little twist in the story as something (I wont tell you what) is not what it seems.
Suitable for adults & children alike.