Morpurgo offers his knighthood to war horse Joey
MICHAEL Morpurgo has said he will “give” his knighthood to the equine character Joey from his acclaimed story War Horse.
The 74-year-old has been awarded the title for his services to literature and charity in this year’s New Year Honours list.
The former Children’s Laureate told the Press Association: “I think in a way the only reason this wonderful honour has been given, it is for charity, but it is because, probably if I’m honest with myself, it is about one book.
“And it’s about one story and one play, the great good fortune of my writing life in terms of, I suppose, circumstance and bringing the kind of success you can’t dream of in terms of rewards and awards – it’s the play of War Horse.
“There was never a knight owed so much to his horse as this one – and in fact, we will give the knighthood to Joey and call him Sir Joey,” he said.
Morpurgo’s 1982 children’s book of the same name was adapted into the now worldfamous play, which premiered at the National Theatre in 2007.
The play is set during the outbreak of the First World War and documents the extraordinary friendship between a boy named Albert and his horse, Joey.
It has been a staple of London’s West End for eight years, and has been seen by more than seven million people in 11 countries, the official website says.
In 2011 it was released on the big screen in a film directed by Steven Spielberg.
Morpurgo, a former school teacher, was born in Hertfordshire and after completing his schooling at The King’s School in Canterbury, attended Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
The military path was not for him and he went on to King’s College university, and married his wife, Clare, when he was 19. They have three children.