Private Peaceful (After Words) (Collins Drama) (Oberon Plays for Young People)

by Michael Morpurgo

A stunning new edition of this modern classic of World War One, featuring a new introduction by the author and insightful testimonies from soldiers, to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

Told in the voice of Private Tommo Peaceful, the story follows twenty-four hours at the front, and captures his memories of his family and his village life – by no means as tranquil as it appeared.

Full of vivid detail and engrossing atmosphere, leading to a dramatic and moving conclusion, Private Peaceful is both a compelling love story and a deeply moving account of the First World War.

Extra material:

- Introduction by Michael Morpurgo
- Inspiration letter by Michael Morpurgo
- Background on the execution of British soldiers in WW1 for cowardice, including personal testimony from soldiers

• ISBN13: 9780008191740
• Publish Date: 2 June 2016 (first published 6 October 2003)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 21 February 2024
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• Edition: Anniversary edition
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 208
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[readingwithwrin]

4.5 stars

"The more we sing the more cheery we become, and that's in spite of all we see - the shell shattered villes we march through, the field hospitals we pass, the empty coffins waiting."
Tommy Peaceful is a young man who has gone off to war with his big brother Charlie and is now trying to survive nights in the trenches by remembering his childhood.

During his childhood, his family always struggled after his father died in a tree cutting accident, that Tommy has always felt guilty for. He tends to follow around his big brother Charlie and Molly who is his best friends, but as time goes on Charlie and Molly start spending more time together and leaving out Tommy in small ways.

Add in a brother who needs help, a rich man who tries to control the whole town, and a mean aunt. The boys are left with only two options, move to a different town, or go to war. Not wanting to make their mother and brother move they join the war.

The war isn't what they expected it to be, and Tommy struggles with it and without Charlies by his side I'm not sure he would have made it.

Overall I did enjoy this story. I don't know much about WWI in general besides the basics. So to learn some of the things that the men had to deal with and how they were treated is just awful. Tommy manages to make it through with letters from home and remembering his childhood. This at first was a little confusing to me, but as it got closer to his present it was easier to understand.

I would highly recommend this book if you're wanting to know a little about WWI.