Enjoying Snackz.ai?
Sign up!
or
I agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms of Service.
Already have an account?
๐ฉ Check your inbox!
A link to reset your password has been sent to your email address.
Reset Password
No worries! Just enter your email below, and we'll help you reset that password:
Enjoying Snackz.ai?
Sign up!
or
I agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms of Service.
Already have an account?
๐ฉ Check your inbox!
A link to reset your password has been sent to your email address.
Reset Password
No worries! Just enter your email below, and we'll help you reset that password:
Michael Morpurgo
Where would you like to order?
Please select your country to proceed with the checkout.
โก Free 3min Summary
Private Peaceful - Summary
Private Peaceful follows the heartbreaking journey of Thomas "Tommo" Peaceful as he reflects on his life during one fateful night in World War I. Through a series of flashbacks, we experience his idyllic childhood in rural Devon, his deep bond with his brother Charlie, their shared love for Molly, and the brutal realities of war that ultimately lead to a devastating conclusion. The story masterfully weaves themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and the senseless tragedy of war into a powerful narrative that challenges our understanding of courage and cowardice.
Key Ideas
The Unbreakable Bond of Brotherhood
The relationship between Tommo and Charlie forms the emotional core of the story, demonstrating how their loyalty to each other transcends all circumstances - from childhood adventures to the horrors of war, culminating in Charlie's ultimate sacrifice for his brother.
The Injustice of War
Through the experiences of young soldiers and the arbitrary nature of military justice, the novel exposes the cruel absurdity of war and how it destroys innocent lives, particularly highlighting the tragic practice of executing soldiers for "cowardice."
Love and Loss
The story explores various forms of love - brotherly love, romantic love, and familial love - while showing how war and social circumstances can both strengthen and strain these bonds, ultimately leading to profound loss and sacrifice.
FAQ's
Charlie was executed for "cowardice" after disobeying direct orders to abandon his wounded brother Tommo during battle. Despite his actual display of courage in choosing loyalty to his brother over military orders, the military justice system unfairly condemned him.
The constant checking of time throughout Tommo's night of reflection creates tension and emphasizes the countdown to dawn when Charlie will face execution. It also serves as a metaphor for how time shapes our lives and memories.
Tommo's unrequited love for Molly, who eventually marries Charlie, adds complexity to the brothers' relationship and demonstrates how love can create both joy and pain. It also shows Tommo's maturity in accepting their relationship despite his own feelings.
๐ก Full 15min Summary
Thomas Peaceful is reluctantly going to school for the first time with his older brother Charlie. He is scared of the headmaster Mr Munnings and his cane. Charlie comforts him and promises to look after him. In the schoolyard, the headmaster singles Thomas out and scolds him for coming to school with bare feet.
In class, Thomas' teacher Miss McAllister kindly helps Thomas learn to tie his shoelaces, with the help of Molly, the oldest girl in class. Molly becomes Thomas' first friend at school. During playtime, Thomas practices tying his shoelaces, remembering how Molly did it. When Molly sees Thomas has learned, she smiles at him.
Thomas reminisces about his father James Peaceful, who recently died when a tree fell on him while they were working in the woods together. Thomas was there when it happened but was unable to run away in time. At the funeral, Thomas feels guilty, thinking he caused his father's death.
The story captures Thomas' transition from carefree childhood to grappling with grief, guilt, and new independence at school. With the help of his brother Charlie and his new friend Molly, Thomas begins to find his way in the world. Though heartbroken from losing his father, Thomas shows resilience and an ability to learn and grow.
Enjoyed the sneak peak? Get the full summary!
Explore Books
Bright Line Eating
The Science of Living Happy, Thin and Free
Susan Peirce Thompson, PHD
The Biz
The Basic Business, Legal, and Financial Aspects of the Film Industry in a Digital World
Schuyler M. Moore
The Human Stain
Philip Roth
Summer Love
Subina Bhaแนญแนญarฤฤซ
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
Haruki Murakami
All of Me
How I Learned to Live with the Many Personalities Sharing My Body
Kim Noble
The Intelligent Investor, Rev. Ed
The Definitive Book on Value Investing
Benjamin Graham
Border as Method, or, the Multiplication of Labor
Sandro Mezzadra, Brett Neilson
Crocodile on the Sandbank
Miss Marple crossed with Indiana Jones!
Elizabeth Peters
The Great Transition
A Novel
Nick Fuller Googins
The City of Falling Angels
John Berendt
Weather For Dummies
John D. Cox
The Sugar Barons
Matthew Parker
Along Came a Spider
(Alex Cross 1)
James Patterson
Machine Learning For Dummies
John Paul Mueller, Luca Massaron
The Midnight Feast
Lucy Foley
The Count of Monte Cristo Volume 1รขle Comte de Monte-Cristo Tome 1: English-French Parallel Text Edition in Six Volumes
Alexandre Dumas
The Friend Zone Experiment
A sweet, friends-to-lovers second-chance romance from Zen Cho
Zen Cho
Cristiano and Leo
The Race to Become the Greatest Football Player of All Time
Jimmy Burns
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels
The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made
Jason Schreier
We Do Not Part
A Novel
Han Kang
The Echo of Old Books
A Novel
Barbara Davis
Ali Cross
James Patterson
The Infernal Devices
Clockwork Angel; Clockwork Prince; Clockwork Princess
Cassandra Clare
Starling House
A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick that is the perfect dark Gothic fairytale for autumn!
Alix E. Harrow
The Five Love Languages
Gary Chapman
The Pirate Prince
Gaelen Foley
Pete the Cat: 5-Minute Pete the Cat Stories
Includes 12 Groovy Stories!
James Dean
Elantris
Brandon Sanderson
The Plot Against America
Philip Roth
Let's find the best book for you!
Get book summaries directly into your inbox!
Join more than 10,000 readers in our newsletter
Discover the Snackz AI catalogue
The right book at the right time will change your life.
Get the books directly into your inbox!
โ New Release
โ Book Recommendation
โ Book Summaries
Copyright 2023-2025. All rights reserved.