Line of Fire: Diary of an unknown soldier - author Barroux visits school

Published on: 06 May 2014 Author: Bridget Martin

At a recent event organised by BookTrust and Phoenix Yard Books as part of our work to promote translation in children's literature, author, Barroux, spoke to students from St Marylebone C E School in London about what inspired him to create his striking graphic novel Line of Fire: Diary of an Unknown Soldier.

Students heard how a chance find of a 100 year old diary discarded on the streets of Paris, containing a French soldier's account of the events of the first two months of World War One, provided the inspiration for this moving graphic novel. Separation from family, life on the front line, injury, and time in a military hospital are all part of the story brought to life in pictures by Barroux.

In the words of Michael Morpurgo, who has written a special introduction to the book: 'We need the voice of a witness to tell the adulterated truth. We have it in this remarkable book.'

School librarian Dr Graham Gardner said: 'Language is something that can divide us but stories and pictures are what bring us together, there's been so much interest and enthusiasm from the students. The value of such events is written on the face of every student.'

Watch the video of the event where Barroux talks and paints for an audience of school children below.