seabiscuit.
I've avoided this one for a while, fearing it would be mawkish and sentimental. My wife read it, and kept quoting chunks to me, which sounded like the writer had researched her material.
So gave it a try.
It isn't really a novelisation of history, more of a documentary. It's as much about american society and horse racing of the time as it is about the titular Seabiscuit.
I'm finding it very hard to read, as too much reminds me of my dad, and his struggles with horses, injuries and the racing establishment in Australia. Found myself weeping while reading about a wife whose husband was brain injured falling from a horse (my father had a similar injury when I was 16).
Well worth reading.