After the Partition of India in 1947, Breem returned to England and held a variety of jobs which included labourer in a tannery, assistant to a veterinary surgeon, and rent-collector in the East End of London. He eventually joined the library staff of the Inner Temple in London, in 1950. Michael Morpurgo has thrilled and delighted huge numbers of young readers since becoming a children’s author in the early 1970s," Wood said. "Action for Children’s Arts is delighted to recognise Michael’s outstanding contribution by presenting him with the J M Barrie Award 2016. His work will undoubtedly, like Peter Pan, stand the test of time, making him a truly worthy recipient of this award."

An Eagle in the Snow by Michael Morpurgo - review

Lo que nos cuenta. Paulino Gayo Máximo, antiguo general romano con mucha experiencia entre los limitanei y comitatenses, echa la vista atrás al final de sus días y nos cuenta su vida, marcada por sus duras experiencias personales y castrenses, centrándose en su participación dentro de los acontecimientos que desembocaron en el estallido del violento conflicto que tuvo lugar entre las tribus germánicas y el Imperio Romano de Occidente a orillas del Rin al finalizar el año 406. Maximus is pushed to break away from the Empire and lead his frontier legions as a new emperor. He declines both times, once to his Roman legion and once to the Germanic tribes. Julian intercedes on the tribes' behalf and Maximus explains why he can't accept: "My Empire has had more usurping Emperors than I can count...all weakened the empire they thought to strengthen. I shall not add to their number." Julian responds: "The Empire is dying, Maximus. It is weaker than when you were a boy..." With discipline, deception, persuasion, and surprise, Maximus holds the line against an increasingly desperate and innumerable foe. Friends, allies, and even enemies urge Maximus to proclaim himself emperor. He refuses, bound by an oath of duty, honor, and sacrifice to Rome, a city he has never seen. But then circumstance intervenes. Now, Maximus will accept the purple robe of emperor, if his scrappy legion can deliver this last crucial victory against insurmountable odds. The very fate of Rome hangs in the balance. It doesn’t happen all at once,” he said. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Two days later I rode southwest in the spring sunshine. Behind me I left my youth, my middle age, my wife, and my happiness. I was a general now and I had only defeat or victory to look forward to. There was no middle way any longer, and I did not care. Banished to the Empire's farthest outpost, veteran warrior Paulinus Maximus defends The Wall of Britannia from the constant onslaught of belligerent barbarian tribes. Bravery, loyalty, experience, and success lead to Maximus' appointment as General of the West by the Roman emperor, the ambition of a lifetime. But with the title comes a caveat: Maximus needs to muster and command a single legion to defend the perilous Rhine frontier. This book clearly inspires a lot of love from other readers and I can see how. It just wasn't for me and that's okay, I like bizarro which is definitely not for everyone. This one will be better suited to the next person I'm sure.

EAGLE IN THE SNOW- PB by Morpurgo Michael | Goodreads EAGLE IN THE SNOW- PB by Morpurgo Michael | Goodreads

At the age of seven or eight, I was profoundly put off reading by a school I went to (he attended several) where it was all about testing me and spellings. I just wanted to play outside. Among writers of historical fiction, Eagle in the Snow has achieved semi-legendary status. It was first published in 1970 and, largely through recommendation, has remained in print ever since (no small feat in itself when the author, Wallace Breem, died in 1990). This is the story of the Roman leader Paulinus Maximus, who first serves on the frontier in Britain along Hadrian's wall, where he suppresses a bloody revolt by the Picts led by a former childhood friend. While contending with the Picts he hears word of the loss of two legions along the Danube, with the chilling realization that the Empire and even civilization itself may not last forever. Când se termină o bătălie, însă, ei bine, lucrurile se schimbă. Iar bătălia aceea se terminase. În jurul nostru zăceau morți și răniți, unii flăcăi de-ai noștri, dar cei mai mulți de-ai lor. Atunci te uiți la ce-ai făcut. Victoria era a noastră, dar nu se simțeam victorioși. Așa e mereu. Nu te bucuri. N-ai un moment de triumf. Nu simți decât ușurare. Trăiam. Cel puțin deocamdată. Scăpaserăm cu viață.Even the soap operas that they see on television are full of domestic strife. At least one third of children in the UK are from split families. So you can’t serve up stories about Janet and John and their nice little dog, saying that the world is sweet. As we grow up, we all have to confront the uncomfortable things in life like death and loss.”

Eagle in the Snow - Michael Morpurgo An Eagle in the Snow - Michael Morpurgo

Por lo que he trastead por la red creo que es un personaje más o menos real pero con muchas licencias del escrito (vamos, que no es tan real como los que suele traernos Posteguillo).I really enjoyed this novel. Biggest strength of the novel compared to books that they publish today is how accurate and rich this book is in depicting atmosphere that preceded fall of Western Roman Empire. Resolution is an important thing to me. I like closure, if a woman had ever left me the way we lose sight of some of these characters I don't think I'd realize we had a relationship in the first place. I would just be confused, and I am. The only relationship I cared about in this book is between Quintus and Maximus and even that is shoddy, there's no resolution to the problem that put a wedge in their friendship and that's frustrating. It's tragic and it's really the only thing I cared about being resolved, and it doesn't bloody happen. Or it does happen and its such a crap resolution it makes me want to scream you decide.