Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption is a 2010 non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand. Unbroken is a biography of World War II veteran Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic track star who survived a plane crash in the Pacific Theater, spent 47 days drifting on a raft, and then survived more than two and a half years as a prisoner of war (POW) in three Japanese POW camps.
Unbroken spent more than four years on The New York Times best seller list, including 14 weeks at number one. It is the 5th longest-running nonfiction best seller of all time.
Contents
Background
Inspired by the story Come on SeaBiscuit in childhood, as an adult Hillenbrand wrote Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001). While researching that novel, Hillenbrand came across a 1938 newspaper article about Zamperini. The discovery led Hillenbrand to tell the story of Zamperini's experience as a prisoner of war (POW) during World War II. “Unbroken” (2010) became a New York Times Bestseller and formed the basis for a feature film.
Synopsis
Zamperini grows up in a Christian home. In his youth, he is a troublemaker in his hometown of Torrance, California, stealing and stashing food, liquor, and cigarettes. He is also bullied for his Italian background.
Zamperini is caught by law enforcement and returned to his family. Although his father disciplines him with beatings, his behavior does not improve.
Coached by his older brother, Pete, Zamperini soon begins to pursue running. Pete rides a bicycle alongside Louis as he runs home from school, ringing the bike bell as encouragement. This positive reinforcement changes Zamperini, who then joins his high school track team. Subsequently, he begins to win races, and becomes known as the Torrance Tornado. Training at a college track facility, Louis becomes acquainted with James Sasaki, a man he presumes to be Japanese-American.
In 1936, Zamperini earns a place on the U.S. Olympic Team to compete in the Berlin Olympic Games. Pete walks his younger brother to the train station for his departure to Germany. At the station, Zamperini says that this first Olympic Games will just be a “try-out” for the next Olympics 4 years later in Tokyo, Japan. Pete tells Louis to never forget that “a moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory”.
At the Olympics, Zamperini participates in the opening ceremonies as the Olympic Torch is lit, and notices a Japanese contestant who politely nods at him. Competing in the 5,000 meter race against more experienced athletes, Zamperini first seems to fall behind. As the second lap bell rings, he remembers Pete’s words and rallies to place 8th with a time of 14 minutes, 46.8 seconds.
Following the start of World War II, Zamperini’s running career abruptly ends. He enlists in the United States Army Air Corps and becomes a bombardier, and is subsequently assigned to the Pacific theater to a squadron based in the Hawaiian Islands. Zamperini and his crew grow close during this time.
When his plane, the Super-Man, bombs a Japanese target, it is hit over five hundred times. Despite failed brakes, the crew is able to crash land at their air field. All but one of the crew survive the ordeal.
Character list
Louis Zamperini: A child of Italian immigrants, born in 1917. Olympic middle distance runner (1936) who becomes a POW during World War II.
Pete Zamperini: Louis Zamperini's older brother, his role model and first running coach.
Louise Zamperini: Louis’ mother, who refuses to give up on Louis for dead.
Anthony Zamperini: Louis’ father, depicted as a disciplinarian.
Sylvia Zamperini: One of Louis’ two sisters.
Virginia Zamperini: One of Louis’ two sisters.
Glenn Cunningham: An athlete who serves as one of Louis’ biggest role models.
James Kunichi Sasaki: Sasaki is a Japanese man who becomes friends with Louis in the United States long before his POW capture. Sasaki reappears at the Ofuna camp, as a head interrogator.
Russell Allen Phillips: Russell / “Phil”, a survivor of the Green Hornet crash alongside Louis and one of Louis’ best friends. Initially they were both imprisoned at Ofuna but Phil was relocated. He survives the war and marries.
Francis McNamara: Francis / “Mac”, the third survivor of the crash of the Green Hornet, buried at sea.
Gaga: Gaga was a pet duck of the Ofuna POWs killed by the guards.
The Quack: An unnamed Japanese officer who beats Bill Harris for creating a map of the camp and a Japanese-English dictionary.
William Harris: William / Bill, one of the first people Louis meets at Ofuna camp, known for his photographic memory and language skills.
Publication
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption was officially published on November 16, 2010 by Random House Publishing Group. Soon after its publication, the book was praised on the New York Times Bestseller list and remained on the list for a consecutive 160 weeks. As of 2014, the book sold over 5.5 million copies.
Awards and honors
2010 Publishers Weekly "Top 10 Best Books"
2010 The New York Times Best Seller list (Nonfiction)
2010 Time magazine's "Top 10 Nonfiction Books" (#1)
2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist (Biography)
2011 Indies Choice Book Awards (Adult Non-Fiction)
2011 Dayton Literary Peace Prize shortlist
2012 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction longlist
Adaptations
A feature film based on the book was adapted by Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures. Angelina Jolie served as the film's director, while the Coen brothers, Richard LaGravenese, and William Nicholson wrote the screenplay. Jack O'Connell portrays Louis Zamperini and the film had its general release on Christmas 2014 to mixed reviews but was a box office success.
A subsequent movie, Unbroken: Path to Redemption was made as a sequel in 2018 to this first movie, to less success than the first one.