Brother Mendel's Perfect Horse

Man and beast in an age of human warfare

Frank Westerman, Sam Garrett

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Paperback

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English

Vintage
15 August 2013

History; Travel writing

Europe's twentieth-century history told through the incredible story of a horse- the Lipizzaner.

' ""When you touch a Lipizzaner, you're touching history,"" Westerman was once told. His elegant book offers fascinating proof' Financial Times

Frank Westerman explores the history of Lipizzaners, an extraordinary troop of pedigree horses bred as personal mounts for the Emperor of Austria-Hungary. Following the bloodlines of the stud book, he reconstructs the story of four generations of imperial steed as they survive the fall of the Habsburg Empire, two world wars and the insane breeding experiments conducted under Hitler, Stalin and Ceausescu.

But what begins as a fairytale becomes a chronicle of the quest for racial purity. Carrying the reader across Europe, from imperial stables and stud farms to the controversial gene labs of today, Westerman asks, if animal breeders are so good at genetic engineering, why do attempts to perfect the human strain always end in tragedy?

By: Frank Westerman
Translated by: Sam Garrett
Imprint: Vintage
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 224g
ISBN: 9780099512776
ISBN 10: 0099512777
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 15 August 2013
Recommended Age: From 0 years
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Frank Westerman was born in 1964 and lived and worked in Moscow from 1997 to 2002 as correspondent for the leading Dutch NRC Handelsblad newspaper. Westerman is the author of five highly praised books. His work has been published in more than ten languages and has won many prizes.

Reviews for Brother Mendel's Perfect Horse: Man and beast in an age of human warfare

When you touch a Lipizzaner, you're touching history, Westerman was once told. His elegant book offers fascinating proof -- Carl Wilkinson Financial Times Westerman's own unique process of hybridisation, his mix of travel writing and history, yet again proves a winner. enquiring and thoughtful -- Lucy Scholes Independent A masterpiece De Standaard Westerman's account of the Lipizzaners' remarkable survival makes stirring reading. His tales of research in secret archives and encounters with wartime veterans who helped with Operation Cowboy have the subterfuge and tension of a thriller -- Jane Shilling Sunday Telegraph A most charming book -- Allan Mallinson The Times