Well, nipper's class are doing work on
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo. Thought I'd give it a look so that I at least have some idea of what she is likely to be working with.
What to say. For a children's book it is remarkably well written considering the subject matter. There is a subtlety to it as it deals with themes around British pre-war society, class structure and family ties. Then as it gets to the war itself there are shades of Charley's War or Pat Barker's
Regeneration. It tries to convey the rollercoaster of emotions that squaddies faced in the trenches while connecting it to the individuals themselves who fought. More importantly it subtly tackles the thorny issue of the use of capital punishment by the British Army.
The vignette's at the start of each chapter lead the reader inexorably to the conclusion. There is quite a contrast to those in Reynolds'
House of Suns that did not really seem to connect with the rest of the story. Instead Morpurgo uses them to lead the reader down the path he sets out before using them to stunning effect at the end.
It is easy to see why it would be chosen for students to work with. It provides a powerful but highly accessible narrative with which to explore the experiences of those who fought in the early stages of the war. There is no jingoism but nor is there the castigation that sometimes surrounds debates about military leadership. Perhaps it is more because it focuses on the familial relationships to try to convey some sense of the impact, echoing the words of the old song:
and did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind
in some loyal heart is your memory enshrined
and though you died back in 1916
to that loyal heart you're forever nineteen
or are you a stranger without even a name
forever enshrined behind some old glass pane
in an old photograph torn, tattered, and stained
and faded to yellow in a brown leather frame
This is one novel that is highly recommended.
