FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Michael Morpurgo
What are you working on?
I’ve just finished a book so I’m still in that afterglow. It’s the selfcongratulatory feeling of ‘Oh, you’ve done terribly well – you don’t need to do anything else for a bit.’
When were you at your happiest?
When I was first married and a young father and a young teacher. And I’m pretty happy now.
Greatest fear?
Losing those you love.
Earliest memory?
Walking down a street in London to go to the corner shop. I felt quite proud because I was allowed to hold the ration book.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I can be stupidly spontaneous.
Your greatest influence?
My wife, Clare. She gave me the confidence to see a side of myself that I hadn’t had the confidence to see. She was the first one who encouraged me to write. I’ve been married for 51 years and throughout that time she’s been the first person to read my books.
Most treasured possession?
A pen drawing by Gaugier-Brzeska of a lying-down deer.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Unkindness.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My lack of hair. I look at it every morning and think: ‘No, it’s worse.’ It’s annoying because my father had a terrific head of hair right through to his 80s.
Favourite book?
The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono. It’s about a shepherd who plants acorns all his life so that he leaves behind, when he dies, entire hillsides covered in forest.
Favourite film?
Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday.
Favourite music?
I’ve just written a book around a piece of music, a Mozart sonata called Andante Grazioso, Piano Sonata No 11. That’s my all-time favourite. The book, Listen To The Moon, is about a girl who is a survivor from a shipwreck, and she has in her head the whole time this piece of music that she and her father loved. They call it ‘their tune’ and when they’re parted it’s this piece that she hums to the moon when she thinks of him.
Favourite meal?
Prawn and mushroom curry.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Mozart, Darwin and Shakespeare.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
A teacher called me the most stupid boy she’d ever taught. I shouldn’t have been that upset by it, but it was in front of everyone and it was the emphasis on stupid. She was so angry. I remember being very crestfallen.
Do you believe in aliens?
I’m absolutely sure that somewhere out there, there has to be an atmosphere that can sustain life.
What is your secret vice?
I’m not telling you.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Yes, I think it’s very important.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
‘And’.
What would most improve the quality of your life?
More time.
Tell us something we don’t know about you.
I have an inclination to be extraordinarily lazy. I’m a procrastinator. I struggle to keep writing. My inclination is to push it away and say: ‘No, not now, later.’ I do give in to it sometimes. I get round it by promising people things. I’m always promising my publishers a book by a certain date, then I feel strongly about keeping to what I said.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘He did his best.’
War Horse continues at the New London Theatre, Drury Lane, London WC2: 0844-412 2708, www.warhorselondon.com
I’ve just finished a book so I’m still in that afterglow. It’s the selfcongratulatory feeling of ‘Oh, you’ve done terribly well – you don’t need to do anything else for a bit.’
When were you at your happiest?
When I was first married and a young father and a young teacher. And I’m pretty happy now.
Greatest fear?
Losing those you love.
Earliest memory?
Walking down a street in London to go to the corner shop. I felt quite proud because I was allowed to hold the ration book.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I can be stupidly spontaneous.
Your greatest influence?
My wife, Clare. She gave me the confidence to see a side of myself that I hadn’t had the confidence to see. She was the first one who encouraged me to write. I’ve been married for 51 years and throughout that time she’s been the first person to read my books.
Most treasured possession?
A pen drawing by Gaugier-Brzeska of a lying-down deer.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Unkindness.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My lack of hair. I look at it every morning and think: ‘No, it’s worse.’ It’s annoying because my father had a terrific head of hair right through to his 80s.
Favourite book?
The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono. It’s about a shepherd who plants acorns all his life so that he leaves behind, when he dies, entire hillsides covered in forest.
Favourite film?
Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday.
Favourite music?
I’ve just written a book around a piece of music, a Mozart sonata called Andante Grazioso, Piano Sonata No 11. That’s my all-time favourite. The book, Listen To The Moon, is about a girl who is a survivor from a shipwreck, and she has in her head the whole time this piece of music that she and her father loved. They call it ‘their tune’ and when they’re parted it’s this piece that she hums to the moon when she thinks of him.
Favourite meal?
Prawn and mushroom curry.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Mozart, Darwin and Shakespeare.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
A teacher called me the most stupid boy she’d ever taught. I shouldn’t have been that upset by it, but it was in front of everyone and it was the emphasis on stupid. She was so angry. I remember being very crestfallen.
Do you believe in aliens?
I’m absolutely sure that somewhere out there, there has to be an atmosphere that can sustain life.
What is your secret vice?
I’m not telling you.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Yes, I think it’s very important.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
‘And’.
What would most improve the quality of your life?
More time.
Tell us something we don’t know about you.
I have an inclination to be extraordinarily lazy. I’m a procrastinator. I struggle to keep writing. My inclination is to push it away and say: ‘No, not now, later.’ I do give in to it sometimes. I get round it by promising people things. I’m always promising my publishers a book by a certain date, then I feel strongly about keeping to what I said.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘He did his best.’
War Horse continues at the New London Theatre, Drury Lane, London WC2: 0844-412 2708, www.warhorselondon.com