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Rich
With Spellbinding Historical Detail, Here Is The Remarkable
True Story Of An Extraordinary Horse And His Pioneering
Trainer Who Captured The Hearts Of Americans At The Dawn
Of The 20th Century: Beautiful
Jim Key -- the one-time ugly duckling of a scrub colt who
became one of the most beloved heroes of the turn of the
century -- was adored not for his beauty and speed but rather
for his remarkable abilities to read, write, spell, do mathematics,
even debate politics. Trained with patience and kindness
by one of the most renowned horse whisperers of his day
-- former slave, Civil War veteran, and self-taught veterinarian
Dr. William Key -- Jim performed in expositions across the
country to wildly receptive crowds for nine glorious years,
smashing box office records, clearing towering hurdles of
skepticism and prejudice, and earning the respect and admiration
of some of the most influential figures of the era, from
Booker T. Washington to President William McKinley. At long
last, masterful storyteller and best-selling author Mim
Eichler Rivas returns two cultural icons their due, unraveling
not only the mystery of their disappearance, but examining
how, thanks to this rare and intimate relationship between
horse and man, championed by promoter and humane activist
Albert R. Rogers, a shift took place in the public mind
that made kindness to animals a cornerstone of modern civilization.
Unveiled against the backdrop of American history, this
is their incredible tale.
“Rivas
brings to life a lost slice of Americana. . . . Exhaustively
researched.” — People
“Like
Seabiscuit, Rivas’ tale chronicles the adventures of
a great horse and the men who loved him… Rivas’s
engaging story is filled with eyebrow-raising details.”
— Entertainment Weekly
“Rivas
shows how the intimate bond between horse and man…propelled
the growth of animal-rights and anti-cruelty groups”
— Publishers Weekly (starred)
“Just
might be the bottled lightning that was Hillenbrand’s
Seabiscuit.” — Kirkus Reviews
READ
MORE Praise AND RAVES for Mim Eichler Rivas’s Beautiful
Jim Key
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The
official Site for Beautiful Jim Key, and the book by Mim Eichler Rivas. All
material © 2007. 