By Michael Foreman (author)
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
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An evocative WW1 story of heroism and friendship, based on real events. Ali Pasha was a tortoise celebrity, appearing on Blue Peter and in newspapers worldwide, including The Times and The Boston Globe. Retold through journal entries and through Henry’s accounts to a young reporter, Ali’s story has stunning colour illustrations throughout.
On 6th May 1915, Henry Friston, a 21-year-old seaman, rejoined his battleship after ten days in Hell. Hell was just 180 metres long and seven metres wide and was otherwise known only as ‘X Beach’, Gallipoli. Henry, ferrying the wounded from the battlefield, had not eaten or slept for three days. Then, somehow, in the midst of the bombardments, he met an unlikely companion – a tortoise.
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During WWII Michael Foreman lived above his mother’s village shop in Pakefield, just south of Lowestoft in Suffolk. Michael particularly remembers a bus driver who drove the local chocolate-and-cream coloured buses. His name was Henry Friston.
After the war Michael met Henry’s son, Don who in turn introduced Michael to their tortoise, Ali Pasha. Apparently Ali would eat almost anything except for tomatoes.
The story of how Ali Pasha came to live in Suffolk with the Friston family slowly unfolded. Henry Friston – as a young sailor in WWI had found the tortoise on the beaches at Gallipoli in 1915. Michael Foreman discovered that Ali Pasha’s life story was a remarkable one – being awarded a coveted Blue Peter Badge and obituaries in The Times and Daily Telegraph when he died well into his nineties … “The Tortoise Veteran of Gallipoli”
Michael has now told the story of Ali Pasha complete with his trademark watercolour illustrations and has dedicated this book to his life-long friend Don Friston, who told him his father Henry’s story.
“This touching story will live on for generations to come” Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse
Michael Foreman was our Guest Editor in March 2010 - click here - to see the books that inspired his writing.
Michael Foreman was born in Suffolk in 1938, and studied at Lowestoft School of Art, St Martin’s, London, and the Royal College of Art, where he won a scholarship to the USA in 1963. He has worked as an Art Director at Playboy and King magazines and still works as Art Editor of the literary journal Ambit.
He has also made animated films in Scandinavia and for the BBC. His first book, The General , (a picture book published in 1961), dealt with disarmament and received rave reviews. Since then he has illustrated more than thirty of his own books and over a hundred by authors as varied as Shakespeare, J.M. Barrie, the Brothers Grimm and former Python, Terry Jones. He has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading illustrators and has won numerous prizes including the Smarties Prize, the Kate Greenaway Medal (twice), the Francis Williams Prize (twice) and the Aigle d’Argent at the Festival International du Livre in France. Michael is married and has three sons.
He spends most of his time in London, but regularly visits St Ives, Cornwall, where he owns the painter Ben Nicholson’s old house.
Click Here to download alot more information about Micheal and his books.
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On 6th May 1915, Henry Friston, a 21-year-old seaman, rejoined his battleship after ten days in Hell. Hell was just 180 metres long and seven metres wide and was otherwise known only as ‘X Beach’, Gallipoli.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Amazing Tale of Ali Pasha and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-10 years old
The Amazing Tale of Ali Pasha features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Recommendations, Historical Fiction, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 7+ readers
Paperback, Hardback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Amazing Tale of Ali Pasha was written by Michael Foreman and published by Templar Publishing
The Amazing Tale of Ali Pasha has 125 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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