Unbroken: a World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption: The Summary of the Story

Laura Hillenbrand does an amazing job telling the unbelievable story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner turned war hero in the early 1900s. Unbroken is a historical narrative World War II story of survival, resilience, and redemption. This story tells of Louie's young life of defiance, his rise to stardom as an Olympic runner, and the excruciating pain he endured throughout his experiences in World War II.

Louis grew up in 1920s California with his parents, two Italian immigrants, his older brother Pete, and his two younger sisters.

Louie was somewhat of a trouble maker, he got caught fighting and breaking the law at very young age. In an attempt to help get him on the right track, Pete introduced him to track and field, creating his love for running. He eventually became one of southern California's top athletes and ran in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He ran honorably and hoped to eventually run a four-minute mile or less in the 1940 Olympics, but it was cancelled when the war in Europe escalated.

Get quality help now

Marrie pro writer

Verified writer

Proficient in: Biography

5 (204)

“ She followed all my directions. It was really easy to contact her and respond very fast as well. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

Louie then decided to enlist in the Army Air Corps and was trained to go to war as a bombardier.

During a search mission in the middle of an air battle Louie's plane was shot down over the Pacific Ocean. He and only two other members of his crew, Mac and Phillips, survived the crash. The author's descriptive storytelling makes you anxious to keep reading as she writes of their forty-seven-day journey at sea aboard a small inflatable raft with limited food, fresh water, and resources.

Hillenbrand tells of starvation, thirst, shark and gun attacks, extreme weather conditions, and more horrific events that took place. Finally, an island can into view, but to their dismay they were seen and taken captive by the Japanese military.

The Japanese kept Zamperini captive and tortured him mentally and physically for two and a half years. Hillenbrand describes a very detailed image of the treatment Zamperini endured in the interrogation centers and POW camps. Even through all the beatings, disease, and brutality that took place there, they were unable to break Louie's spirit and the belief that he would one day return home to his family. The Japanese surrendered in 1945, and Louis was finally free. However, Hillenbrand says his mind still struggled with PTSD and the haunting nightmares fueled by revenge long after the rescue.