Unbreakable

Unbreakable audiobook: The countess who defied the Nazis in the Grand Pardubice, the world's most dangerous horse race. By Richard Askwith, translated by Anna Kudrnová. Read by Antonín Navrátil, directed by Miloš Vrána. Czechoslovakia, October 1937. The nation is still mourning the death of the revered T. G. Masaryk, while beyond its borders the menacing Third Reich is expanding – and plotting its attack. In this tense atmosphere, huge crowds have flocked to eastern Bohemia for the country's most prestigious sporting event: the Velká pardubická steeplechase. Known as the “Devil’s Race,” it is renowned for its extremely dangerous obstacles and exhausting ploughed field sections, and many consider it the ultimate test of manhood and fighting spirit. Nazi Germany has once again sent elite members of its paramilitary units: ruthless SS officers tasked with trampling the Slavs they despise. The officers of the Czechoslovak cavalry have little hope of stopping them. But there is another rider – a silver-haired countess on a golden mare… The story of Lata Brandisová is one of the most remarkable and inspiring in the history of sport. Born into a privileged family, she nevertheless lived for long decades in poverty. She refused to accept the limitations that contemporary society placed on women. Instead, with quiet courage, she repeatedly achieved what others declared impossible. The scandal that erupted around her first attempt at the Velká pardubická resonated throughout Europe. Ten years later, she became the nation's hope in its darkest hour. And then came the retribution… Unbreakable is a story of courage, grief, and defiance in a time of prejudice and fear. It is driven by forces – sexism, class intolerance, nationalism – whose shadows fall upon today's world. It is dominated by eccentric aristocrats, drawing-room spies, recklessly risk-taking riders – and a race so brutal that many consider participation alone to be a sign of madness. And at its centre stands an extraordinary heroine and her unique relationship with a horse. RICHARD ASKWITH He has worked as a journalist for over 35 years. He has written five books to date, including a compelling biography of Emil Zátopek, for which he was nominated for the Cross Sports Book Awards. His debut, Feet in the Clouds, won several awards. The author's next title, Running Free from 2014, was nominated for the Thwaites Wainwright Prize. His passions are running, outdoor adventures, and the ordinary people of the English countryside. ANTONÍN NAVRÁTIL At the age of six, he participated in an audition for the television show HLEDÁME PÍSNIČKY PRO DĚTI (WE'RE LOOKING FOR SONGS FOR CHILDREN) (1964), subsequently acting in children's musicals, reciting, and singing. At the age of ten, he played one of the main roles in the legendary series KAMARÁDI (FRIENDS). After graduating from DAMU, he joined the Vinohrady Theatre (1981–1992), where he performed in plays such as The Rainmaker, Záviš of Falkenstein, and The Hill. In 1992, he left the Vinohrady Theatre due to a personal dispute, after which he temporarily left the world of media altogether, driving a lorry and working as an artistic blacksmith. He has returned to the camera only sporadically since the mid-90s, acting in the comedy BYL JEDNOU JEDEN POLDA (ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A COP) (1995), for example. However, in 1996 he began to devote himself fully to dubbing, and in this field, he is now one of the busiest creators. Originally, he only did voice-over work, but later he founded his own dubbing studio, Dial, and now also works as a director. He has put his name to the Czech versions of films such as Braveheart, Titanic, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He also voiced roles in these films himself, and his voice can be heard in dozens of other foreign films and series. He has also created Czech subtitles for some films. Copyright © Richard Askwith, 2019 First published as Unbreakable by Yellow Jersey, an imprint of Vintage. Vintage is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies.