- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Fourth Estate; Film tie-in edition edition (20 Oct 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007167040
- ISBN-13: 978-0007167043
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 10.6 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 352,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
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'
Product Description
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 aslo 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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Seabiscuit is the touching story of three miss-fits inspiring the US nation during the depression. A wonky horse, trainer and hard luck jockey team together to win some of the most prestigious races on the US circuit and in doing so rally the spirits of the American public in a way reminiscent of the England Rugby World Cup frenzy.
The characters are superbly crafted and you feel an empathy with them as their lives unfold before you. There is a very strong need to know what happens next when reading the book.
It is a fabulous story showing that even during the hard times the love of family, friends and good old fashioned hard work can turn your luck around.
The characters are superbly crafted and you feel an empathy with them as their lives unfold before you. There is a very strong need to know what happens next when reading the book.
It is a fabulous story showing that even during the hard times the love of family, friends and good old fashioned hard work can turn your luck around.
69 of 71 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a child horseracing always struck me as a matter of terminal boredom, particularly on rainy Saturday afternoons when the TV seemed to be dedicated to solely that sport... Not surprisingly, I ventured into Seabiscuit with some trepidation and without having seen the film! The result was a massive surprise!
Seabiscuit is a story of grit, courage and character and written by an author who knows that it's going to be tough reading a couple of hundred pages about races on various racecourses in the US. However, somehow the book moves along at quite a pace - at times exciting, at times informative and at times just descriptive, but all the way through you get the feeling of expectation building up. There is a palpable excitement as Seabiscuit heads for the greatest race of his life despite the difficulties that surround him, his trainer and his jockeys. This deserves to be read even if you don't much go for horseracing.
37 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is addictive and spellbinding!
I bought this book in the airport while waiting for a flight and had finished it by my return flight the following day - I could not put this book down!
It tells the story of Seabiscuit and all those that impacted on his life, far more gripping and eye opening than the film.
I passed it to my brother a constant reader of books and he was speechless he had not expected such a fascinating read.
Buy it! Its an excellent read.
I bought this book in the airport while waiting for a flight and had finished it by my return flight the following day - I could not put this book down!
It tells the story of Seabiscuit and all those that impacted on his life, far more gripping and eye opening than the film.
I passed it to my brother a constant reader of books and he was speechless he had not expected such a fascinating read.
Buy it! Its an excellent read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Best Sports Book Ever
Ok, I admit it, I am a racing nut. But this book, it just blew me away. It's a story that could have been written a long time ago, if it had I may never have got to know about such... Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2008 by Mr. Ray Smilie
An AMAZING book for ALL readers of ALL tastes
I did not expect to be so blown away by a book about a horse. I am not interested in horse racing or even factual books however I was inspired to read this, by an interview of the... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2006 by Pink Cashmere
You won't regret buying this book!
Selecting a book purely on hype is something I don't, as a rule, do. However, if I was relying on a description of Seabiscuit alone, I don't think I would ever have bought it. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2005 by Karl McCann
Imagery Jumps Off the Page
Reading "Seabiscuit" made it clear why it became such a successful film. The vividness of the imagery jumps right off the page. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2005 by Angie Clusterman
An incredible story of unlikely heroes
Although I am a huge horse racing fan, I ignored this book for a long time, but I realised that it must be good when somebody with no interest in the sport told me what a fantastic... Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2004 by Peter Durward Harris
Hoof-Tromping, Heart-Thumping Thrills as an Underdog Wins!
If you only read one book about sports this year, make it Seabiscuit. This book deserves many more than five stars for its superb portrayal of the underdog horse whose career... Read more
Published on 10 May 2004 by Donald Mitchell
Seabiscuit
Brilliant characters which draw you into the story. Facinating historical details which relive those depression years in the USA. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2004 by Mrs Elizabeth Weaver
Uneven But Well-Written Depression Story
The details of horse-racing culture and the swirl of characters make this a fascinating piece of literature and Americana, and the book is exceedingly well-written. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2004 by readercrazy
seabiscuit, the story of three men and a racehorse
wonderful insight into racehorse business, the exceptional horse seabiscuit truly a legend of our time. The book was well written, interesting and compulsive reading.
Published on 1 Feb 2004 by "graham4408"
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