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The Perfect Horse

The Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis

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The Perfect Horse

By: Elizabeth Letts
Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
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About this listen

New York Times best seller

From the author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion, the remarkable story of the heroic rescue of priceless horses in the closing days of World War II

Winner of the PEN Award for Research Nonfiction

In the chaotic last days of the war, a small troop of battle-weary 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 the perfect military machine - an equine master race. But with the starving Russian army closing in, the animals are in imminent danger of being slaughtered for food.

With only hours to spare, one of the US 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 small but determined force of soldiers, aided by several turncoat Germans, steals across enemy lines in a last-ditch effort to save the horses.

Pulling together this multistranded story, Elizabeth Letts introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters: Alois Podhajsky, director of the famed Spanish Riding School of Vienna, a former Olympic medalist who is forced to flee the bomb-ravaged Austrian capital with his entire stable in tow; Gustav Rau, Hitler's imperious chief of horse breeding, a proponent of eugenics who dreams of genetically engineering the perfect warhorse for Germany; and Tom Stewart, a senator's son who makes a daring moonlight ride on a white stallion to secure the farm's surrender.

A compelling account for animal lovers and World War II buffs alike, The Perfect Horse tells for the first time the full story of these events. Elizabeth Letts' exhilarating tale of behind-enemy-lines adventure, courage, and sacrifice brings to life one of the most inspiring chapters in the annals of human valor.

“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)

©2016 Elizabeth Letts (P)2016 Random House Audio
Animals Biographies & Memoirs Military War Solider Imperialism Hungary Holocaust Arabian Horse
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Critic reviews

"[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)

“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)

What listeners say about The Perfect Horse

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This story should not be forgotten

Wow this book is amazing. Such an unbelievable story but real life. This should never be forgotten. Beautifully written and easy to follow. It touched my heart.

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Loved this book

I loved this book learnt so much about the war and the horses and people involved if you live horses and history it's a must. Will be listening to it again and again as I'm sure I will pick up more each time x

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Fascinating but an emotional storm.

I put off listening to The Perfect Horse for a few months as I wasn't sure I could cope with it. (Other horse owners will understand!) This is one of the most engaging books I've ever read/listened to and I've seldom come across such a powerful narrative of the extreme feats of endurance demanded of the Arab breeding stock.


This was emotionally heavy going but well balanced between the horrors of war and the beauty of human compassion towards the horses. Thoroughly well researched, it is an eye opening perspective of life and politics during and after the war from both sides.

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Rose tinted glasses

The story seems to be romanticized to the extent that it takes from the facts. It left me trying to guess what was true and what was the authors imagination. Also it doesn’t deviate from what’s horse related and what’s going on in the wider context of ww2. I would have expected to hear a little more about what the individuals were doing outside of their interactions with the horses - the line at the end saying that Mr Xs character has been brought into question by historians shows that there was a lot more in the story than we are being told. Disappointing.

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