The 14th of October saw Michael Morpurgo and Pat Barker attend the Durham Book festival, in association with the International Literature Showcase, at Durham Cathedral. Together they discussed and shared memories about what drew them to chronicling the First World War, and to reflect upon their prolific careers.
During the event, Michael Morpurgo gave a delightful reading from his epic and poignant tale War Horse, in which Joey – the equine protagonist – prompts a young German and Welsh soldier to open a friendly discourse in the middle of the notorious No Man’s Land.
The reading was followed by an eye-opening discussion about the nature of human spirit in war and how this concept has resonated in both Michael and Pat’s writing.
The event ended with a light-hearted Q&A session, in which both Michael and Pat touched on some tips and inspirational thoughts for budding writers.
Durham Cathedral was the perfect home for the evening and the discussion, but if you missed it you can watch the full event here.
