The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts (Netgalley ARC)

The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts is about a beautiful horses and an ugly time. It's a time when men like German, Gustav Rau, and others of the Third Reich see the value only in the pure breed of a horse and the purity of the German, Aryan blood. There are kind hearted men like Alois Podhajsky, a veternarian, who sees in a broken horse its ability to thrive and become again valuable. Alois Podhajsky also healed many horses during this horrid time of war and hate. This is Germany, Poland and other Axis Powers during The Thirties and in to World War II. A special horse is Neapolitano Africa, Alois Podhajsky's horse which might have been left unloved and as an outcast without the vet.

At first, I thought the nonfiction story disjointed. Then, I began to see the need to fix my eyes on her goal as an author. I chose to look at the theme as one about the Jewish people parallel to the Equestrian History of the Horse. It was then that I could see the richness of the Jewish culture and the magnificent of horses like the Lippinzer and Alois Podhajsky's become raped or brutally undressed by the hands of men who were only looking for power and wanting to become the twin to a man who was so awful that people only wish to whisper his name until this very day. That man is Hitler.

I  had the chance to learn so much about horses. There are the Arabian Beauties and the Lippnizers. The grace of a horse and the hours teachers took to work with the horses at the Spanish Learning School is all fascinating. At times the historical part became dry, but the story of the horse overrides any boredom The wish to know more about the era takes over. It also was ingrained in me again not to forget the horrors Jewish people faced at places like Auschwitz during this time unless History shall repeat itself.

There are photos throughout the book. The book is also timely because of the Olympics during The Thirties. By the way, you can still visit the Spanish Riding School today. penguinrandomhouse/the-perfect-horse-by-elizabeth-letts/9780345544803/

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