Laura Hillenbrand

Laura Hillenbrand 2017-0019-F Hi j0006 1 (cropped)

Laura Hillenbrand (born May 15, 1967) is an American author of books and magazine articles. She is best known for her two bestselling nonfiction books, Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001) and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (2010). Hillenbrand's writing style is characterized by thorough research and a compelling narrative.

Early Life

Laura Hillenbrand was born in Fairfax, Virginia. She grew up in a family that valued education and literature. Hillenbrand attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, but she was forced to leave before completing her degree due to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a condition that has significantly impacted her life and work.

Career

Hillenbrand's career as a writer began with articles for various magazines. Her breakthrough came with the publication of Seabiscuit: An American Legend, which tells the story of the famous racehorse Seabiscuit and his impact on American culture during the Great Depression. The book was a major success, spending 42 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list and winning the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award.

In 2010, Hillenbrand published Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, which recounts the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete and World War II bombardier who survived being shot down, drifting at sea, and being a prisoner of war. Like her first book, Unbroken was a bestseller and was adapted into a film directed by Angelina Jolie.

Personal Life

Hillenbrand has been open about her struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which she has suffered from since her college years. Despite the debilitating nature of the illness, she has managed to produce highly acclaimed works of nonfiction. Hillenbrand's experience with CFS has also led her to become an advocate for greater awareness and research into the condition.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout her career, Hillenbrand has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to literature and journalism. These include the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the Christopher Award. Her works have also been recognized for their historical accuracy and engaging storytelling.

Bibliography

• Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001)
• Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (2010)

Adaptations

Both of Hillenbrand's major works have been adapted into films. Seabiscuit was released in 2003, directed by Gary Ross and starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, and Chris Cooper. Unbroken was released in 2014, directed by Angelina Jolie and starring Jack O'Connell.

See Also

• Seabiscuit
• Louis Zamperini
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Kenyon College