Why the Whales Came
Encyclopedia
Why the Whales Came is a children's story
written by Michael Morpurgo
and first published by William Heinemann
in 1985. It is set on the island of Bryher, one of the Isles of Scilly
, in the year 1914. "You keep away from the Birdman", warned Gracie's father. But Gracie and her friend Daniel discover that the Birdman is not mad or dangerous as everyone says. It is the Birdman who warns them to stay away from Samson
Island – he says it is cursed. Gracie's father then joins the navy and goes to war. Gracie's mother falls ill and cannot earn enough money to support the family. Gracie and Daniel decide to go fishing to earn money against Gracie's mother's wishes. Daniel and Gracie get stranded on Samson by fog they have to unravel the island's haunting secrets and help the Birdman to keep the curse from crossing to Bryher. Soon after, Gracie comes home to learn of a tragic loss. Is it true? Is Samson really cursed?
The Birdman warns them in turn to stay away from the island of Samson, which he says is cursed. According to his story, a large school of whales were washed ashore on the island and were massacred by the islanders. This led to a number of misfortunes, including the well drying up, which eventually made the island uninhabitable. The curse can only be lifted when the guilt of Samson is redeemed.
As luck would have it, during a fishing trip, Gracie and Daniel end up stranded on Samson, which appears to be haunted. When they return home, they hear that their father has disappeared while fighting at Gallipoli
. Soon after, a school of whales are washed ashore on Bryher, and it appears that Bryher will suffer the same fate as Samson. Gracie and Daniel try to stop the whales from being slaughtered, and eventually succeed when joined by their mother. As a result, the curse of Samson is lifted and the islanders of Bryher are able to visit it. Finally, their father returns home, having miraculously survived.
The book was filmed under the title When the Whales Came
in 1989 and performed on stage in 2003.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
written by Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo, OBE FKC AKC is an English author, poet, playwright and librettist, best known for his work in children's literature. He was the third Children's Laureate.-Early life:...
and first published by William Heinemann
William Heinemann
William Heinemann was the founder of the Heinemann publishing house in London.He was born in 1863, in Surbiton, Surrey. In his early life he wanted to be a musician, either as a performer or a composer, but, realising that he lacked the ability to be successful in that field, he took a job with...
in 1985. It is set on the island of Bryher, one of the Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
, in the year 1914. "You keep away from the Birdman", warned Gracie's father. But Gracie and her friend Daniel discover that the Birdman is not mad or dangerous as everyone says. It is the Birdman who warns them to stay away from Samson
Samson, Isles of Scilly
Samson is the largest uninhabited island of the Isles of Scilly. It is in size. The island consists of two hills, North Hill and South Hill, which are connected by an isthmus on which the former inhabitants built many of their sturdy stone cottages...
Island – he says it is cursed. Gracie's father then joins the navy and goes to war. Gracie's mother falls ill and cannot earn enough money to support the family. Gracie and Daniel decide to go fishing to earn money against Gracie's mother's wishes. Daniel and Gracie get stranded on Samson by fog they have to unravel the island's haunting secrets and help the Birdman to keep the curse from crossing to Bryher. Soon after, Gracie comes home to learn of a tragic loss. Is it true? Is Samson really cursed?
Plot summary
Gracie and Daniel, two young children, live on the island of Bryher in the Isles of Scilly at the beginning of World War I. Their parents warn them not to go to near the Birdman, who lives on the south side of the island. There are rumours that the Birdman is mad and dangerous. However, Gracie and Daniel end up on the south side of the island when they cannot find a place to sail their boats, and eventually run into him. The Birdman turns out to be friendly and they begin a secret friendship with the old man. He alerts them when a large deposit of timber from a wrecked ship is deposited on one of the island's beaches, and the islanders manage to hide the timber before customs officers from St Mary's arrive.The Birdman warns them in turn to stay away from the island of Samson, which he says is cursed. According to his story, a large school of whales were washed ashore on the island and were massacred by the islanders. This led to a number of misfortunes, including the well drying up, which eventually made the island uninhabitable. The curse can only be lifted when the guilt of Samson is redeemed.
As luck would have it, during a fishing trip, Gracie and Daniel end up stranded on Samson, which appears to be haunted. When they return home, they hear that their father has disappeared while fighting at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
. Soon after, a school of whales are washed ashore on Bryher, and it appears that Bryher will suffer the same fate as Samson. Gracie and Daniel try to stop the whales from being slaughtered, and eventually succeed when joined by their mother. As a result, the curse of Samson is lifted and the islanders of Bryher are able to visit it. Finally, their father returns home, having miraculously survived.
The book was filmed under the title When the Whales Came
When the Whales Came
When the Whales Came is a 1989 British film, based on the 1985 children's book Why the Whales Came written by Michael Morpurgo. The film is set on the fictional British island of Scylla, while the location of the book is explicitly identified as Bryher, one of the Isles of Scilly.-Plot:Two...
in 1989 and performed on stage in 2003.