Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of The Ride of Her Life and The Eighty-Dollar Champion comes the “winningly readable” (The Christian Science Monitor) true story of the heroic rescue of priceless horses in the closing days of World War II. “Hard to put down . . . One need not be an equestrian or horse lover in order to appreciate this story.”—New York Journal of Books WINNER OF THE PEN AWARD FOR RESEARCH NONFICTION   In the chaotic last days of the war, a small troop of American soldiers captures a German spy and makes an astonishing find—his briefcase is empty but for photos of beautiful white horses that have been stolen and kept on a secret farm behind enemy lines. Hitler has stockpiled the world’s finest purebreds in order to breed an equine master race. But with the starving Russian army closing in, the animals are in danger of being slaughtered for food.   With hours to spare, one of the U.S. Army’s last great cavalrymen, Colonel Hank Reed, makes a bold decision—with General George Patton’s blessing—to mount a covert rescue operation. Racing against time, Reed’s determined force of soldiers, aided by several turncoat Germans, steals across enemy lines to save the horses.   An exhilarating tale of adventure, courage, and sacrifice, The Perfect Horse brings to life one of the most inspiring chapters in the annals of human valor.

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Reviews

Winningly readable . . . Letts captures both the personalities and the stakes of this daring mission with such a sharp ear for drama that the whole second half of the book reads like a WWII thriller dreamed up by Alan Furst or Len Deighton. . . . The right director could make a Hollywood classic out of this fairy tale. --The Christian Science Monitor Hard to put down . . . One need not be an equestrian or horse lover in order to appreciate this story. --New York Journal of Books The Perfect Horse raises the narrative bar. Applying her skills as a researcher, storyteller and horsewoman, Letts provides context that makes this account spellbinding. --Culturess A wholly original, illuminating perspective on the war The Perfect Horse tells a fascinating story of bravery and benevolence that has gone far too long without reaching an audience. Full of action, heartbreak and well-developed characters, it has everything needed to be adapted into an outstanding war movie. To anyone with a love of horses or other animals, Letts' fantastic, almost humanizing characterizations of some of the horses will make this book an instant favorite. And to history buffs, The Perfect Horse provides a totally fresh look at WWII that can't be found anywhere else. --Bookreporter An absorbing history of an unusual rescue mission in the closing days of the war in Europe . . . Letts does an excellent job of bringing the various players to life. --BookPage A truly fascinating chronicle of a dedicated group of horsemen and the risks they were willing to take to preserve the equine icon that is the Lipizzaner. . . . I was hooked from start to finish by Letts's incredible attention to detail and her gripping account of the events surrounding and leading up to the rescue mission. --Horse Nation A brilliantly written story about Hitler's effort to build an equine master race with the finest horses in Europe gathered in one place. As the end neared, these beautiful animals were within days of being slaughtered when a controversial covert mission was planned to rescue the horses and smuggle them to safety. --PineStraw Magazine A riveting and touching piece of equestrian history beautifully told . . . [Letts makes] long dead characters come alive, revealing their passions and fears and flashes of uncommon valor for the sake of horses whose fate lay in their hands. The horses, too, are vivid and unforgettable. . . . Don't miss it. --EquiSearch [Elizabeth] Letts, a lifelong equestrienne, eloquently brings together the many facets of this unlikely, poignant story underscoring the love and respect of man for horses. . . . The author's elegant narrative conveys how the love for these amazing creatures transcends national animosities. --Kirkus Reviews Straight out of the cauldron of Nazi brutality and war, Elizabeth Letts weaves not just a page-turner but an achingly glorious story of grace and redemption. She embeds us with an international ensemble cast of battle-toughened soldiers. It is through their eyes, and through Letts's nearly supernatural horse sense, that we fall in love with sensitive Lipizzaner and fine-boned Arabians--the rescued animals who inspired men to reclaim their humanity. --Vicki Constantine Croke, author of Elephant Company In the early years of World War II, the finest purebred horses in Nazi-occupied Europe were stolen by the Germans for experiments to develop the perfect horse. In this spellbinding, heart-stopping book, Elizabeth Letts does full justice to the extraordinary drama of the horses' rescue in the war's chaotic final days. --Lynne Olson, author of Citizens of London The Perfect Horse is an enthralling and moving story that I could not put down. This is a riveting and unique perspective on World War II. History buffs and horse lovers will enjoy this amazing tale. --Molly Guptill Manning, author of When Books Went to War Passionately told and dazzling in scope, The Perfect Horse charges headlong into an unforgettable tale of World War II, when good men were given a final mission--to save beloved horses--at an hour when no one wanted to die. In Elizabeth Letts, the saga of World War II's white stallions has found its perfect guardian. --Adam Makos, author of A Higher Call Elizabeth Letts's beautiful prose, woven together with meticulous research, takes you for a ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. --Robin Hutton, author of Sgt. Reckless Letts deftly tells the harrowing tale of a little-known wartime mission and its unlikely heroes, who understood that the treasures they risked their lives for--some of the world's finest-bred horses--were a keystone of civilization during a time of perilous threat. This is the best kind of storytelling. --Joe Drape, author of American Pharoah In Elizabeth Letts's engrossing, richly researched book--a story of horses and heroism during the final days of World War II--we learn that our human instinct to protect our equine friends can cause us to risk even our own lives for their sake. This relatively unknown episode is as moving as it is dramatic. --Wendy Williams, author of The Horse

Winningly readable . . . Letts captures both the personalities and the stakes of this daring mission with such a sharp ear for drama that the whole second half of the book reads like a WWII thriller dreamed up by Alan Furst or Len Deighton. . . . The right director could make a Hollywood classic out of this fairy tale. <b>--<i>The</i> <i>Christian Science Monitor</i></b> Hard to put down . . . One need not be an equestrian or horse lover in order to appreciate this story. <b>--<i>New York Journal of Books</i></b> <i>The Perfect Horse</i> raises the narrative bar. Applying her skills as a researcher, storyteller and horsewoman, Letts provides context that makes this account spellbinding. <b>--<i>Culturess</i></b> A wholly original, illuminating perspective on the war <i>The Perfect Horse</i> tells a fascinating story of bravery and benevolence that has gone far too long without reaching an audience. Full of action, heartbreak and well-developed characters, it has everything needed to be adapted into an outstanding war movie. To anyone with a love of horses or other animals, Letts' fantastic, almost humanizing characterizations of some of the horses will make this book an instant favorite. And to history buffs, <i>The Perfect Horse</i> provides a totally fresh look at WWII that can't be found anywhere else. <b>--<i>Bookreporter</i></b> An absorbing history of an unusual rescue mission in the closing days of the war in Europe . . . Letts does an excellent job of bringing the various players to life. --<b><i>BookPage</i></b> A truly fascinating chronicle of a dedicated group of horsemen and the risks they were willing to take to preserve the equine icon that is the Lipizzaner. . . . I was hooked from start to finish by Letts's incredible attention to detail and her gripping account of the events surrounding and leading up to the rescue mission. <b>--<i>Horse Nation</i></b> A brilliantly written story about Hitler's effort to build an equine master race with the finest horses in Europe gathered in one place. As the end neared, these beautiful animals were within days of being slaughtered when a controversial covert mission was planned to rescue the horses and smuggle them to safety. <b>--<i>PineStraw Magazine</i></b> A riveting and touching piece of equestrian history beautifully told . . . [Letts makes] long dead characters come alive, revealing their passions and fears and flashes of uncommon valor for the sake of horses whose fate lay in their hands. The horses, too, are vivid and unforgettable. . . . Don't miss it. <b>--EquiSearch</b> [Elizabeth] Letts, a lifelong equestrienne, eloquently brings together the many facets of this unlikely, poignant story underscoring the love and respect of man for horses. . . . The author's elegant narrative conveys how the love for these amazing creatures transcends national animosities. <b>--<i>Kirkus Reviews</b> Straight out of the cauldron of Nazi brutality and war, Elizabeth Letts weaves not just a page-turner but an achingly glorious story of grace and redemption. She embeds us with an international ensemble cast of battle-toughened soldiers. It is through their eyes, and through Letts's nearly supernatural horse sense, that we fall in love with sensitive Lipizzaner and fine-boned Arabians--the rescued animals who inspired men to reclaim their humanity. <b>--Vicki Constantine Croke, author of <i>Elephant Company</i></b> In the early years of World War II, the finest purebred horses in Nazi-occupied Europe were stolen by the Germans for experiments to develop the perfect horse. In this spellbinding, heart-stopping book, Elizabeth Letts does full justice to the extraordinary drama of the horses' rescue in the war's chaotic final days. <b>--Lynne Olson, author of <i>Citizens of London</i></b> <i>The Perfect Horse</i> is an enthralling and moving story that I could not put down. This is a riveting and unique perspective on World War II. History buffs and horse lovers will enjoy this amazing tale. <b>--Molly Guptill Manning, author of <i>When Books Went to War</i></b> Passionately told and dazzling in scope, <i>The Perfect Horse</i> charges headlong into an unforgettable tale of World War II, when good men were given a final mission--to save beloved horses--at an hour when no one wanted to die. In Elizabeth Letts, the saga of World War II's white stallions has found its perfect guardian. <b>--Adam Makos, author of <i>A Higher Call</i></b> Elizabeth Letts's beautiful prose, woven together with meticulous research, takes you for a ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. <b>--Robin Hutton, author of <i>Sgt. Reckless</i></b> Letts deftly tells the harrowing tale of a little-known wartime mission and its unlikely heroes, who understood that the treasures they risked their lives for--some of the world's finest-bred horses--were a keystone of civilization during a time of perilous threat. This is the best kind of storytelling. <b>--Joe Drape, author of <i>American Pharoah</i></b> In Elizabeth Letts's engrossing, richly researched book--a story of horses and heroism during the final days of World War II--we learn that our human instinct to protect our equine friends can cause us to risk even our own lives for their sake. This relatively unknown episode is as moving as it is dramatic. <b>--Wendy Williams, author of <i>The Horse</i></b>

Author Information

Elizabeth Letts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion and The Perfect Horse, which won the PEN Award for Research Nonfiction, and The Ride of Her Life. She is also the author of the novels Finding Dorothy, Quality of Care, and Family Planning. She lives in Wyoming Maryland and Northern Michigan.

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