Seabiscuit: The True Story of Three Men and a Racehorse
Well read paperback with 448 pages written by Laura Hillenbrand
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The true story of three men and their dreams for a racehorse – Seabiscuit – that symbolised a pivotal moment in American history, as the twentieth century’s greatest nation found the courage to bet on itself to win against the odds. Now a major motion picture directed by Gary Ross and starring Toby Maguire and Jeff Daniels.
In 1936 the habits of 19th-century America were finally consigned to history just as Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind was published. In their place, modern America was born. But what defined this new era?
Nothing more than the story of Seabiscuit, a stunted colt with asymmetrical knees that had for two years been hacked around no-good race tracks which led to permanent leg damage. Yet by 1937 Seabiscuit could draw crowds of 60,000 and had more newspaper column inches devoted to him than Mussolini, Hitler or Roosevelt, his popularity peaking during his appearances at the Santa Anita Handicap.
America had gone to the races for the first time since the Depression and fallen in love with a misshapen colt of great character. Now it wanted a winner.
Seabiscuit is also the story of three men: Tom Smith, a former Wild West Showman was the trainer; Red Pollard, abandoned by his poverty stricken family at a race track became the rider; and Charles Howard, a pioneer car manufacturer in San Francisco in the 1920s was the owner and financier. These three combined to create the legend of Seabiscuit and epitomise a dream for the emerging new America.
'A rip-roaring narrative from a cobwebbed chapter of the Depression' Sunday Times
'Hillenbrand tells the story of the triumphs and tribulations of her cast of misfits with flair and skill, relishing the larger than life characters who inhabited this forgotten demimonde.' Sunday Times
'Most readable…a wonderful tale' Daily Mail
'This season's literary sensation' Financial Times
Laura Hillenbrand
Laura Hillenbrand is the author of the number-one bestseller Seabiscuit, which won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. It was made into a major international film, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. She lives in Washington, D.C.
Fourth Estate, published October 20th, 2003, Film tie-in Edition
ISBN-10: 0007167040
ISBN-13: 978-0007167043
Dimensions: 11.1 x 2.8 x 17.8 cm
UNSPSC-Code: 55101500