War Horse (novel)

War Horse is a children's novel by English author Michael Morpurgo, first published in 1982. It tells the story of Joey, a farm horse sold to the British Army during World War I and shipped to France. The narrative is presented from Joey's perspective, offering a unique and poignant view of the war.

The novel explores themes of friendship, loyalty, the horrors of war, and the connection between humans and animals. Joey's experiences on the front lines, as well as his interactions with various soldiers from both sides of the conflict, highlight the senseless brutality of war and the resilience of the human (and equine) spirit. Albert Narracott, Joey's original owner and closest friend, enlists in the army as soon as he is old enough and searches tirelessly for Joey throughout the war.

War Horse has been adapted into a successful stage play (2007) and a feature film directed by Steven Spielberg (2011), both of which have further popularized the story and its anti-war message. The novel is widely read in schools and remains a powerful and moving account of World War I.