Unbreakable: The Woman Who Defied the Nazis in the World’s Most Dangerous Horse Race

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Richard Askwith

Unbreakable

The Woman Who Defied the Nazis in the World’s Most Dangerous Horse Race

Richard Askwith

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Hardback

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QTY:

English

Vintage
07 March 2019

Biography; Biography: sport; Second World War; Horse racing

A story that defies belief- National Velvet meets Downton Abbey with a splash of The Leopard.

Czechoslovakia, October 1937. Europe's youngest democracy is on its knees. Millions are mourning the death of the nation's founding father, the saintly Tomas Masaryk. Across the border, the Third Reich is menacing - and plotting to invade.

In the Czechoslovak heartlands, vast crowds have gathered to watch the threatened nation's most prestigious sporting contest- the Grand Pardubice steeplechase. Notoriously dangerous, the race is considered the ultimate test of manhood and fighting spirit. The Nazis, as usual, have sent their paramilitary elite- SS officers schooled to be Hitler's most ruthless enforcers. Their mission- to crush - yet again - the ""subhuman Slavs"". The local cavalry officers have no hope of stopping them.

But there is one other contestant- a silver-haired countess riding a little golden mare...

The story of Lata Brandisova is one of the strangest and most inspiring in all sport. Born into privilege, she spent much of her life in poverty. Modest and shy, she refused to accept the constraints society placed on her because of her gender. Instead, with quiet courage, she repeatedly achieved what others said was impossible. The scandal of her first attempt to ride in Pardubice reverberated across Europe. Ten years later, she became her nation's figurehead in its darkest hour. Then came retribution...

UNBREAKABLE is a tale of courage, heartbreak and defiance, in an age of prejudice and fear. In the background are forces - sexism, class hatred, nationalism - whose shadows darken today's world too. In the foreground are eccentric aristocrats, socialite spies, daredevil jockeys - and a race so brutal that some consider merely taking part in it a sign of insanity. At its heart is a unique hero, and a unique love affair between a woman and a horse.

By: Richard Askwith
Imprint: Vintage
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 222mm, Width: 144mm, Spine: 39mm
Weight: 558g
ISBN: 9781787290242
ISBN 10: 1787290247
Pages: 432
Publication Date: 07 March 2019
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Richard Askwith has been a journalist for more than 35 years. He has written five previous books, including an evocative biography of Emil Zatopek, Today We Die A Little, which was shortlisted in the Cross Sports Book Awards. This marked his first foray into the world of Czechoslovak sport. His first book, Feet in the Clouds, won Best New Writer at the British Sports Book Awards and the Bill Rollinson Prize for Landscape and Tradition. It was also shortlisted for the William Hill and Boardman Tasker prizes. His 2014 book, Running Free, was shortlisted for the Thwaites-Wainwright Prize.

Reviews for Unbreakable: The Woman Who Defied the Nazis in the World’s Most Dangerous Horse Race

[An] astonishing story... beautifully pieced together by journalist Richard Askwith... Unbreakable is...much more than simply the story of a horse race. It is also a compelling insight into the fading days of the Habsburg empire and the rise of the women's liberation movement between the two wars... exceptional...[and] heart-stopping reading which left me in tears -- Clover Stroud * Daily Telegraph * [An] extraordinary story... Askwith's compelling book, as much about 20th-century history and women's equality as it is about racing, is a fitting tribute to a truly remarkable and courageous woman -- Camilla Swift * Mail on Sunday * Askwith... writes beautifully... One of the most remarkable racing stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading * Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder * [This] thoroughly researched, deeply moving account does justice to a remarkable life -- John Cobb * Racing Post * An inspiring tale of an indomitable spirit * Sunday Times (Best Books of 2019) * This is a truly great story which has the reader rooting for a 41-year-old woman of whom most will have never heard * The Post * Lata Brandisova's story is remarkable... Stirring, vivid stuff * History Revealed * Askwith's book has all the ingredients of a compulsive page-turner... Lata Brandisova was one of the most famous sporting figures in Czechoslovakia... Largely forgotten...Askwith has hunted down leads to present her story in compelling style * Field * A fabulously written book about a remarkable lady. A must-read for National Hunt enthusiasts -- James Fry * International Racing Bureau * Astonishing, inspiring, sad... I found it utterly compelling -- Rose Paterson * Chairwoman, Aintree Racecource * Fascinating -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *