Morpurgo wrote a fictionalised version of this painting in his "Author's Note" at the start of the book. Albert arrives at the camp too late to stop the sale, so he offers to join the cavalry to stay with Joey, but he is too young.

The novel offers a unique perspective on the hardships endured by war horses, and the emotional and physical needs of horses in general. taking the lead (or the reins) is young actor Jeremy Irvine, who has earned his stripes with both the National Youth Theatre and the RSC. From either side of no-man’s-land, a German soldier and a British soldier each appear with a white flag and try to coax Joey to them.Grandfather sells Joey to Albert for one English penny and the promise that he will care for the horse and tell the story of his Emilie. Although he is an excellent rider, he makes up for his short stature by bullying the horses in his care. The third inspiration for the book, was an old oil painting that belonged to Morpurgo's wife Clare: "It was a very frightening and alarming painting, not the sort you'd want to hang on a wall. How can we help to give those around us more confidence if they are feeling nervous about something?

War Horse is a children's novel set in Wartime Europe; the narrative concerns events from before the declaration of World War I to shortly after the Germans surrendered to the Allies. Topthorn is a beautiful and imposing black horse who rides alongside Joey at the front of the cavalry. The Germans also take a liking to these animals, and Joey is awarded a bloodied Iron Cross medal for bravery by a German soldier whom they rescue from the battlefield.Parents need to know that War Horse uses simple language, meant to display the limited awareness of its animal narrator, to tell a poignant story with a strong anti-war message. During one visit, Captain Nicholls tells Joey that he doesn’t want to be at war and fears his soldiers underestimate the gravity of what they face. In addition, in Albert's world on the farm in Devon, his father becomes aggressive and verbally abusive when he drinks.

He has never been apart from his mother before, and he starts crying for her, hearing her cries for him becoming fainter as he is taken farther away. So I did as I was told and I stood back and I watched him, and I could see that he related wonderfully to the animals, totally silently, never spoke to the other kids at all, and then I came in the last evening, which I always used to do, to read them a story. The film version of this novel, also titled War Horse and directed by Steven Spielberg, will open Christmas Day 2011. Joey also enjoys the company of Nicholl's best friend, Captain Jamie Stewart, and his horse, Topthorn. Two men bid feverishly against each other until the auctioneer brings down his hammer and Joey is led away.Emilie's grandfather understands how much Joey means to Albert and sells him to Joey for one penny, and makes Albert promise to tell the people back in his hometown about Emilie, who died of an illness. Morpurgo met a World War I veteran in his local pub at Iddesleigh and learned that he had been in the Devon Yeomanry working with horses during the war. Topthorn, ridden by Captain Stewart, and Joey, ridden by Captain Nicholls, are at the front of the cavalry. Morpurgo is an equine advocate and founded a charity enabling inner-city children to experience living and working on a farm in the heart of the countryside. It formed the basis of both an award-winning play (2007) and an acclaimed film adaptation (2011) by Steven Spielberg.

Joey doesn’t go without a fight, however, and by the time they arrive at the farm, he is “soaked with sweat, and the halter [has] rubbed [his] face raw” (3).Albert's father, troubled by his inability to keep his farm financially sound, drinks to excess weekly. In terms of family life, Albert is bullied by his father, whom he dislikes, and he is frustrated by his mother, who will not stand up to his father.