Recently, I've been reading War Horse, by Michael Morpurgo.
It is an exceptionally moving story of a horse's experience in the First World War.
"I saw the grey soldiers ahead of us raise their rifles and heard the death rattle of a machine gun ... "
- An extract from the book.
In 1914, Joey, a young farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges towards the enemy, witnessing the horror of the frontline. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him.
In the First World War over ten million humans, mainly young men, died. The war also claimed the lives of over six million horses. And it is this horrifying period of world history that forms the backdrop for War Horse, a tragic tale that is told from the viewpoint of the horse, Joey. It is a tale that cleverly portrays the absurdity of war by showing the horse's complete incomprehension of what was unfolding in the trenches and on the battlefield; the horse is simply unable to comprehend how - or why - anybody or anything would behave in such a violent, unthinking way and be able to commit such horrific acts.
This is one of the best books I have ever read and would recommend it to everyone as it not only touches the hearts of any animal lover, but it also shows the reader the dreadful conditions of the First World War and the hardships the soldiers must have faced.
Personally, I give this book a rating of 4/5.
