Hillenbrand, Laura. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. Random House.
Hillenbrand specializes in sagas that captivated past generations but are largely unknown to present ones. Her 2001 Seabiscuit (both in book and DVD form at Merrick Library) is a vivid example of such subject matter. So is this account of a runner who some said in his prime could only be overcome by the horse Seabiscuit. Louis Zamperini escaped a juvenile delinquent's inevitable fate by becoming a track star who came close to breaking the four-minute mile barrier. In the Pacific War Zamperini survived a May 1943 bomber crash only to wind up a prisoner in the Japan held Marshall Islands. Kept alive for propaganda purposes due to having been in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Zamperini was subjected to prolonged torture and humiliation. Returning home, his postwar stress disorder was made manifest in alcoholism, violent fits and an unhappy marriage. Yet his conversion to Christianity in 1949 set Louis Zamperini on a path of inspirational speechmaking, starting up boys' camps and eventually forgiving his Japanese captors. Now at age 93, Zamperini's story should join that of Seabiscuit on the movie screen to be admired as well by a current generation.
Reviewed by Librarian, Bob.
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