First published 2016
In the closing days of World War II, American soldiers stumble upon a shocking discovery: the Nazis have been secretly breeding an elite race of purebred horses. As Russian forces advance from the east and Allied troops push from the west, these magnificent animals face an uncertain fate. General George S. Patton, himself a devoted horseman, sees an opportunity. He authorizes a bold rescue operation to extract the priceless horses from enemy territory. The Americans must work quickly and quietly, smuggling the animals to safety before the war's end seals their fate. Their unlikely ally is an Austrian colonel with an extraordinary background: a former Olympic competitor who has spent years training the renowned Lipizzaner stallions. Together, this unlikely partnership races against time to save creatures caught in the crossfire of history. Elizabeth Letts tells the true story of courage, compassion, and the lengths people will go to preserve beauty in the midst of destruction.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, military-history
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: race-against-time, unlikely-allies
Setting: Austria, United States
Period: World War II
400 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books