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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
emotional
fast-paced
Extremely slow read... interesting story for the most part though.
slow-paced
Loved this true story so much that I went to Vienna and saw the Royal Lippizaners perform .
Heart warming, anxiety provoking, page turner about the collaboration during World War II, to save some of the finest horses ever bred. Horses from all over Europe wound up together in the unlikeliest places. A couple of Olympic athletes, germans, Austrians, Americans and others, came together in what they decided was their number one moral decision-- to make their own legacies, protection of these horses. I was excited to see that two of the horses that were highly treasured, are in my horses' pedigrees . Thankful for that!
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley
When most people hear the words Nazi and Eugenics, they only think about the Nazi view on humanity – the slaughter of innocent people and the desire to breed the perfect people. What many people don’t know is that the Nazis did try to do the same to animals. The Nazis didn’t just steal art and material possessions; they also took horses and various other animals to use in breeding programs.
Elizabeth Lett’s latest book, The Perfect Horse, is a chronicle of the rescue of some of the horses the Nazis tried to take. It is a book that will undoubtedly disappoint some people, but it that is because it is far more than what cover seems to indict.
If people mostly think of the Nazi eugenic ideas only in terms as applied to humans, then most people when they think of horses in World War II think of the Flight of Lipizzaner, not so much fleeing the Nazis as fleeing the Russians. This is in doubt because the Lipizzaners are beautiful ballet horses. They are entrancing. They do magnificent things. It is also do the many books, articles, and a few movies made about the event. What most people do not know or forget is that the Dancing White Horses were not the only breed targeted by the Nazis.
Lett’s book acknowledges this targeting.
Admittedly, Lett’s keeps the focus on the Lipizzaner but also includes the Polish Arabian Stud farm Janow Podlaski’s struggles to keep its horses, including the famous Witez II, safe. (Letts refers to Witez II as Witez throughout the book, but he is usually termed Witez II). At times, this can make the narrative two pronged with the tie in being the rescue of the horses by the American Army. The plus side is that it allows for a more detailed look than the usual saving the dancing horse story.
Letts’ writing tends to be the best when she is dealing with travails of the people who struggle to save the horses. When writing about the horses, sometimes she gets a bit over the top – I am not sure that Witez II felt like a homesick person when he left the stud, and I am sure that Letts doesn’t know either. That aside, the book does detail not only the breeding programs, but differences in how various countries viewed and constructed Calvary.
At times one does wish she included more information – for instance, she notes that Breyer did a model of Witez II but does not note what model it was (Proud Arabian Stallion, in case you want to know) and she could list some film titles as well as detail the draft or other less flashy breeds that were targeted as well.
What Letts does is detail a popular topic that truly gets little detailed coverage.
When most people hear the words Nazi and Eugenics, they only think about the Nazi view on humanity – the slaughter of innocent people and the desire to breed the perfect people. What many people don’t know is that the Nazis did try to do the same to animals. The Nazis didn’t just steal art and material possessions; they also took horses and various other animals to use in breeding programs.
Elizabeth Lett’s latest book, The Perfect Horse, is a chronicle of the rescue of some of the horses the Nazis tried to take. It is a book that will undoubtedly disappoint some people, but it that is because it is far more than what cover seems to indict.
If people mostly think of the Nazi eugenic ideas only in terms as applied to humans, then most people when they think of horses in World War II think of the Flight of Lipizzaner, not so much fleeing the Nazis as fleeing the Russians. This is in doubt because the Lipizzaners are beautiful ballet horses. They are entrancing. They do magnificent things. It is also do the many books, articles, and a few movies made about the event. What most people do not know or forget is that the Dancing White Horses were not the only breed targeted by the Nazis.
Lett’s book acknowledges this targeting.
Admittedly, Lett’s keeps the focus on the Lipizzaner but also includes the Polish Arabian Stud farm Janow Podlaski’s struggles to keep its horses, including the famous Witez II, safe. (Letts refers to Witez II as Witez throughout the book, but he is usually termed Witez II). At times, this can make the narrative two pronged with the tie in being the rescue of the horses by the American Army. The plus side is that it allows for a more detailed look than the usual saving the dancing horse story.
Letts’ writing tends to be the best when she is dealing with travails of the people who struggle to save the horses. When writing about the horses, sometimes she gets a bit over the top – I am not sure that Witez II felt like a homesick person when he left the stud, and I am sure that Letts doesn’t know either. That aside, the book does detail not only the breeding programs, but differences in how various countries viewed and constructed Calvary.
At times one does wish she included more information – for instance, she notes that Breyer did a model of Witez II but does not note what model it was (Proud Arabian Stallion, in case you want to know) and she could list some film titles as well as detail the draft or other less flashy breeds that were targeted as well.
What Letts does is detail a popular topic that truly gets little detailed coverage.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Most war books only speak of the death tolls and violence for humans; no one really speaks for the animals. I felt like I was reading a whole new version of the war that had never been told (at least not in any of my history books from school). Not even the animals were safe from the horrific and savage actions of the Nazis. And I am baffled as to why the German horse breeding program wasn't in any of my history books since that seemed to be a huge part of the Nazi war strategy.
I'm just glad there were people like Hank Reed who saw the beauty and worth in the horses' lives too. And were brave enough to do something about it. One of the great tragedies is how America treated these horses once they made it here.
I'm just glad there were people like Hank Reed who saw the beauty and worth in the horses' lives too. And were brave enough to do something about it. One of the great tragedies is how America treated these horses once they made it here.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
The telling is a little dry because it's packed with so many facts but overall a interesting and informative read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Xenophobia, War
One of the most moving books I've read in a long time. I'll agree with other reviews: The title seems a bit misleading. I'm not sure the Nazi's "Kidnapped" the horses really, but they were in Nazi ruled regions. The "master race of horses" was never really explained or expanded on -- what happened to the horse lines as they were bred so closely? We never really found that conclusion. And the author did give quite a bit of detail that seemed long and dry, but really, I'm not sure the ending would have had such an impact if I hadn't had all the background earlier in the story.
BUT! The true story of how these horses and their caretakers survived WWII and were rescued brought me to tears. These gorgeous, priceless animals are the heart of this story. The tale especially of their transatlantic journey by ship to America had me with streaks seriously ruining my mascara. I cried when the horses, finally safe, were really not cared for as enthusiastically or as carefully as the American rescuers had hoped or intended. It was really a story of emotions.
And now I know that the first real novel I ever read, that brought me a love of reading, The Black Stallion, was modeled after Witez, one of the magnificent Arabian pure-bred animals rescued by the America's last real Cavalry man - Colonel Hank Reed. General George Patton knew of this rescue mission behind enemy lines and gave these men the go ahead to rescue the animals knowing that Patton would not back them if they got into trouble. The chapters explaining Patton's funeral procession made me sob.
Also woven into the story was the history of the Austrian Riding School at Vienna and their dancing Lipizzaner Stallions. Some of these horse too, were rescued and brought to America. I've heard of these great horses, but now I know some history of their craft and would love to see these stallions perform live someday. For now, YouTube channel clips will have to do.
If you were ever a like me, a little girl who loved horses, or loved reading about horses, read this one.
BUT! The true story of how these horses and their caretakers survived WWII and were rescued brought me to tears. These gorgeous, priceless animals are the heart of this story. The tale especially of their transatlantic journey by ship to America had me with streaks seriously ruining my mascara. I cried when the horses, finally safe, were really not cared for as enthusiastically or as carefully as the American rescuers had hoped or intended. It was really a story of emotions.
And now I know that the first real novel I ever read, that brought me a love of reading, The Black Stallion, was modeled after Witez, one of the magnificent Arabian pure-bred animals rescued by the America's last real Cavalry man - Colonel Hank Reed. General George Patton knew of this rescue mission behind enemy lines and gave these men the go ahead to rescue the animals knowing that Patton would not back them if they got into trouble. The chapters explaining Patton's funeral procession made me sob.
Also woven into the story was the history of the Austrian Riding School at Vienna and their dancing Lipizzaner Stallions. Some of these horse too, were rescued and brought to America. I've heard of these great horses, but now I know some history of their craft and would love to see these stallions perform live someday. For now, YouTube channel clips will have to do.
If you were ever a like me, a little girl who loved horses, or loved reading about horses, read this one.
Received an ARC from the author. An amazing story spanning several decades and giving a generous backstory on the men, horses, and places involved. The actual rescue of several hundred Arabian and Lippizaner horses from German control was but a brief blip in the dangers these creatures and their handlers faced both before and after. It's remarkable that so many were able to survive and just how close some ancient breeds came to being wiped out because they were either deemed unimportant or for the sake of creating a superior master breed of horse. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in WWII history and horses.