Photo: Georges Seguin (Okki) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Michael Morpurgo is, to me, one of the most quietly important storytellers writing for children. My take is that War Horse works precisely because he refused the easy heroics, telling the horror of war through an animal's eyes and trusting young readers to handle real grief. The knighthood, the Children's Laureate title and the OBE all confirm what his books already prove: he treats children as serious readers deserving real emotion. What I admire most is the restraint, the Cornish coasts and trenches rendered with care rather than spectacle. He hands kids genuine stories, and that earns my lasting respect.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Michael Morpurgo
- Name (Japanese)
- マイケル・モーパーゴ
- Reading
- まいける・もーぱーご
- Born
- October 5, 1943 (age 82)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Goat
- Origin
- St Albans, United Kingdom
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- poet / writer / novelist / playwright / author
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- King's College London
Awards & achievements
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- 1996 Nestlé Children's Book Prize
- 2003 Children's Laureate
- 2005 Hampshire Book Awards
- 2004 Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
- Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
- 2018 Knight Bachelor
- 2018 Eleanor Farjeon Award
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | War Horse | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Michael Morpurgo born?
Born October 5, 1943 (age 82).
Where is Michael Morpurgo from?
Michael Morpurgo is from St Albans, United Kingdom.
What does Michael Morpurgo do?
Michael Morpurgo works as poet, writer, novelist, playwright, author.
What is Michael Morpurgo known for?
Notable works include War Horse.
Poet — see all → · Writer — see all → · More people from United Kingdom →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.