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Amazon.co.uk Review
Seabiscuit rose to prominence with the help of an unlikely triumvirate: owner Charles Howard, an automobile baron who once declared that "the day of the horse is past"; trainer Tom Smith, a man who "had cultivated an almost mystical communication with horses"; and jockey Red Pollard, who was down on his luck when he charmed a then-surly horse with his calm demeanour and a sugar cube. Hillenbrand details the ups and downs of "team Seabiscuit" from early training sessions to record-breaking victories, and from serious injury to "Horse of the Year"--as well as the Biscuit's fabled rivalry with War Admiral. She also describes the world of US horseracing in the 1930s, from the snobbery of Eastern journalists regarding Western horses and public fascination with the great thoroughbreds to the jockeys' torturous weight-loss regimens, including saunas in rubber suits, strong purgatives, even tapeworms.
Along the way, Hillenbrand paints wonderful images: tears in Tom Smith's eyes as his hero, legendary trainer James Fitzsimmons, asked to hold Seabiscuit's bridle while the horse was saddled; critically injured Red Pollard, whose chest was crushed in a racing accident a few weeks before, listening to the San Antonio Handicap from his hospital bed, cheering "Get going, Biscuit! Get 'em, you old devil!"; Seabiscuit happily posing for photographers for several minutes on end; other horses refusing to work out with Seabiscuit because he teased and taunted them with his blistering speed.
Though sometimes her prose takes on a distinctly purple hue ("His history had the ethereal quality of hoofprints in windblown snow"; "The California sunlight had the pewter cast of a declining season"), Hillenbrand has crafted a delightful book. Wire to wire, Seabiscuit is a winner. Highly recommended. --Sunny Delaney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
‘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
A classic tale.' Sunday Times’
'Great horse, great name, great story, very good book…this one could run and run' Observer
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Customer Reviews
The Great Depression of the 1930s had a devastating effect on the U.S., lasting from 1930 to 1940. (Elderly people today who lived through it still hoard mundane items like string etc. for fear of having to live through another economic depression.) Seabiscuit was a Cinderella story that inspired millions of Americans and helped them hope for a brighter future free of bread lines, soup kitchens, rampant unemployment, and government giveaways of basic necessities like shoes. (My mother stood in line to get shoes for my grandfather, who was too ashamed - or proud - or both - to go himself.) Even into the 1950s, when I was a child, Seabiscuit's name was invoked when you wanted something to go faster ("Come on, Seabiscuit!").
The horse, the owner, the trainer, the jockeys - all were wonderful characters that you won't soon forget. A professional book reviewer for National Public Radio named this the best book of 2001. I hope you will enjoy it too.
Miss Hillenbrand's descriptions of individual races were thrilling. I loved the way she got into the mind of Seabiscuit--she made me understand Seabiscuit's competitiveness, courage, and HEART!
Red Pollard--what a great jockey! The relationship the author demonstrated between man and horse was a joy to read about.
As I said, I knew nothing about this subject before reading this fine book, but now I can't wait to learn more about it.
What a horse! What a jockey! What a trainer! What a book!
Not being a "horse" person I'd never heard of Seabiscuit but after reading about his amazing success I feel like I should have!
I love horse racing anyway but as many have said this book would appeal to so many people because a lot is explained in the book... Read more
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