Hillenbrand tells not just the story of a great horse but the story of America in the late 1930s. The nation was still in the process of recovering from the Depression and it wanted a diversion and a great story. Seabiscuit provided both. Hillenbrand's depiction of the whole long-gone racing world of the era -- the reporters, the track owners, the jockeys, even the stable boys -- and of the public hungry for news is brilliantly done.Seabiscuit would not have succeeded without the trio of men who surrounded him -- the owner, Howard; the trainer, Smith; and the jockey, Pollard. Hillenbrand portrays each of them as an American unique.This book could have been 40 pages shorter without losing its impact. But it is still a riveting read and a great accomplishment.