Cowards Pdf Summary Reviews By Marcus Sedgwick

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Cowards Pdf Summary

A sealed train speeds through the night around the outskirts of wartime London. As it passes through a dimly-lit station without stopping, a note is thrown out on to the platform. What is happening to the men on board? Why do they have to resort to such a desperate method of contacting their loved ones? This is the story of Howard Marten and Alfred Evans, two young men who refused to join the army in the First World War. They suffered imprisonment and punishment, because they believed it was wrong to kill. Sent to the front line in France, they were told to obey or face the firing squad. But they escaped execution, and were sent to jail instead. The ‘conchies’ had achieved a victory, of sorts. The government at last acknowledged the right of men like Marten and Evans to refuse to fight.

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Cowards Review

M. T. Fry

5.0 out of 5 stars A thought-provoking book
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2006

Marcus Sedgwick’s “Cowards” is subtitled, “The True Story of the Men Who Refused to Fight”. It’s the story of Howard Marten and Alfred Evans, just two of the several hundred young men who refused to join the army during World War 1. They, together with fifteen other Conscientious Objectors are sent to the Front Line in France, having been conscripted into the Army once the Military Service Act was passed in 1916. They were told that they would have to obey their military orders or face the firing squad, but each one refused, over and over again, to go against their principles.

This is a brief, but very thought-provoking book. It’s well written in a direct, simple style that clearly explains what the men believed and why they refused to fight. Adults will find it as interesting as children. I highly recommend the book to those who are looking for something to give to children who are wanting to discuss the rights and wrongs of armed conflict in any era and any arena.

Sharon

5.0 out of 5 stars I read three of Marcus Sedgwick’s books and loved each of them
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2014

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I read three of Marcus Sedgwick’s books and loved each of them. When I saw that he wrote Cowards I knew I wanted to know more. I am thankful for these courageous men who stood firm to their beliefs. Their sacrifice made it easier for my father in the next Great War to follow his convictions. Thank you Marcus Sedgwick for this rare gem of a story.

About Marcus Sedgwick Author Of Cowards pdf Book

MARCUS SEDGWICK Author Of Cowards pdf Book was born and raised in East Kent in the south-east of England. He now lives in the French Alps.

He is the winner of many prizes, most notably the 2014 Michael L. Printz Award for his novel Midwinterblood. Marcus has also received two Printz Honors, for Revolver in 2011 and The Ghosts of Heaven in 2016, giving him the most citations to date for America’s most prestigious book prize for writing for young adults. Other notable award winning books include Floodland, Marcus’ first novel, which won the Branford-Boase Award in 2001, a prize for the best debut novel for children published in the UK each year; My Swordhand is Singing, which won the Booktrust Teenage Prize for 2007, and Lunatics and Luck, part of The Raven Mysteries series, which won a Blue Peter Book Award in 2011.

His books have been shortlisted for over forty other awards, including the Carnegie Medal (seven times), the Edgar Allan Poe Award (twice) and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize (four times). He has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award three times, in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Marcus was Writer in Residence at Bath Spa University for three years, reviews for The Guardian newspaper and teaches creative writing at Arvon and Ty Newydd. He has judged numerous books awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Costa Book Awards. He has illustrated some of his books, and has provided wood-engravings for a couple of private press books.