The Shepherd facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Frederick Forsyth |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Chris Foss |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Hutchinson |
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Publication date
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1975 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 54 |
| ISBN | 0-09-125270-9 |
| OCLC | 2437079 |
| 823/.9/14 | |
| LC Class | PZ4.F7349 Sh3 PR6056.O699 |
The Shepherd is a short and exciting story written by British author Frederick Forsyth in 1975. It's a thrilling tale about a pilot who gets lost and needs help finding his way home.
Contents
A Pilot's Christmas Eve Adventure
The story of The Shepherd takes place on Christmas Eve in 1957. A pilot is flying his De Havilland Vampire jet from Germany back to England. Suddenly, his plane loses all its electrical power. He is flying over the North Sea in thick fog, and his fuel is running low.
He is completely lost and in great danger. Then, he sees another plane, a De Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber. This mysterious plane seems to have appeared to "shepherd" him. This means to guide him safely through the fog.
The main part of the story is how this unknown plane guides him to a safe landing. It also covers his efforts to find out who the pilot was that saved his life.
How the Story Was Created
Frederick Forsyth wrote The Shepherd as a special Christmas gift. He wrote it for his first wife, Carrie, in 1974. She had asked him to write a ghost story for her.
He wanted to create a ghost story that wasn't set in a typical haunted house. He got the idea while watching planes fly overhead. The book was published about a year later, close to Christmas 1975.
Some people think the story might be based on old tales from the RAF. Forsyth used to be an RAF pilot himself. However, there is no proof that he heard or used any specific RAF folklore for his story.
Famous Readings and Adaptations
The Shepherd has become a beloved tradition for many people.
Radio Broadcasts
In Canada, the story has been broadcast almost every Christmas since 1979. It airs on the CBC Radio One news show As It Happens. The story is read by Alan Maitland. It always plays on the last episode before or on Christmas Eve.
In 2018, for the 50th anniversary of As It Happens, several hosts read parts of the story. These included Carol Off, Michael Enright, and Tom Power.
On Christmas Eve 2016, BBC Radio 3 broadcast a new version of the story. It was adapted by Amber Barnfather and performed by actor Luke Thompson. This radio show won a Gold Radio Award in 2017. It also won the ‘Most Original Podcast’ Gold Award in 2017.
Stage and Film Versions
On December 14, 2014, actor Nigel Anthony performed a stage version of The Shepherd. This performance took place at St Clement Danes church in London. Frederick Forsyth himself introduced the show. The money raised helped the RAF Benevolent Fund.
In 2022, famous actor John Travolta shared exciting news. He confirmed that he is making a movie based on The Shepherd.
