Laura Hillenbrand is a highly acclaimed American author, best known for her non-fiction books Seabiscuit: An American Legend and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. Both books have been bestsellers, selling over 10 million copies and being adapted for film. Hillenbrand is known for her writing style, which is referred to as New Journalism, a style that focuses on story over style.
Hillenbrand was born in Fairfax, Virginia and studied at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. However, she was forced to leave before graduation when she contracted chronic fatigue syndrome. This illness has greatly affected her life, but she has continued to write and has become a successful author despite the challenges it presents. She now lives in Washington, D.C.
Hillenbrand's first book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend, was released in 2001 and won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in the same year. The book, which tells the story of the great racehorse Seabiscuit, was inspired by Hillenbrand's fascination with the horse and her belief that people can live improbable, breathtaking, and satisfying lives. The book was later adapted into a film in 2003.
Hillenbrand's second book, Unbroken, was released in 2010 and tells the story of a World War II hero's resilience, survival, and redemption. The book was also adapted for film in 2014. Both books have been extremely successful, selling over 10 million copies and receiving critical acclaim. Hillenbrand's writing style, which focuses on the story itself rather than verbal pyrotechnics, has been praised for its ability to bring the characters and events to life in a compelling and engaging way.