Growing up in torrance, california, zamperini ran course at torrance high school and found he had a. Louis zamperini lived an insane life, fighting and vandalising as a delinquent teenager, meeting adolf hitler while competing at the 1936 olympics in berlin, bombing japaneseoccupied islands during ww2, spending 47 days floating on a raft at sea, fighting off sharks while being shot at by a japanese bomber, taking daily beatings as a pow for 2 years and finally, trying to return to normal life. Louis silvie zamperini was born to italian immigrant parents on january 26, 1917, in town of olean, ny. A world war ii story of survival, resilience, and redemption 2010. Zamperini additionally went to develop into a dominant inspirational speaker, and he composed two memoirs, both labeled devil at my heels 1956 and 2003. A final book of zamperinis life lessons to be released in november. Louis silvie zamperini 19172014 find a grave memorial. Pictures first acquired the rights to zamperinis 1956 autobiography, devil at my heels, but the film was never made.
The first, in 1956, written with helen itris, was optioned by universal as a vehicle for tony curtis, but. Hardcover a modern classic by an american legend, devil at my heels is the riveting and personal memoir by u. May 17, 2019 devil at my heels by louis zamperini, 1956, dutton edition, in english 1st ed. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. He met many of the former guards, offering them forgiveness and hugging them. A middleaged louis zamperini embraces the men who once brought living hell upon him on a daily basis. Dustjacket has wear on the edges and fading on the spine. Louis silvie zamperini january 26, 1917 july 2, 2014 was an american world. Louis zamperini had a fuller than most, when it changed in an instant. Told in louis zamperinis own words, devil at my heels is a stirring memoir from one of the greatest of the greatest generation, a living document about the brutality of war, the tenacity of the human spirit, and the power of forgiveness.
His survival story has also been chronicled by laura hillenbrand in her 2010 bestselling. Dec 04, 2014 the bestselling autobiography of the legendary louis zamperini, hero of the blockbuster unbroken a modern classic by an american legend, devil at my heels is the riveting and deeply personal memoir by u. Although zamperini had written an autobiography in 1956 with the same title, the new book tore it down completely and rebuilt it from the bottom up with new information. Devil at my heels a heroic olympians astonishing story of survival as a japanese pow in world war ii.
There was even a sunday school comic book about him. A juvenile delinquent, a world class ncaa miler, a 1936 olympian, a wwii bombardier. Zamperini authored two autobiographies, one in 1956 and another in 2003, both titled devil at my heels. The story of louis zamperini was cowritten by helen itria and published in 1956. It was named the top nonfiction book of 2010 by time magazine. Zamperini is the subject of laura hillenbrands bestselling book unbroken.
Both were called devil at my heels, but the 2003 edition was much expanded from the original, which was published in. Devil at my heels, the story of louis zamperini hardcover published 1956 by e. Louis zamperini, adapted from the 1956 book devil at my heels, coauthored by zamperini and helen itris. Zamperini published two memoirs, different books with the same title, devil at my heels. Dec 14, 2014 for 60 years, the elder zamperini shared his inspiring story with church groups, community organizations, and those he would meet and befriend instantly. Louis silvie zamperini january 26, 1917 july 2, 2014 was an american world war ii veteran, a christian evangelist and an olympic distance runner. Jul 03, 2014 the remarkable life of louis zamperini the olympic runner turned. Department of english and american studies english.
Devil at my heels signed basis for unbroken by laura. Louis zamperini, inspiration for the film unbroken, dead at 97. Jul 04, 2014 a final book of zamperinis life lessons to be released in november. Books for all ages new members save 20% off jigsaw. For 60 years, the elder zamperini shared his inspiring story with church groups, community organizations, and those he would meet and befriend instantly. The remarkable life of louis zamperini the olympic runner turned.
Born to italian immigrants in new york, his family moved to torrance, california when louis was a toddler. Devil at my heels reveals the remarkably candid autobiography of louis zamperini. Louis zamperini biography childhood, life achievements. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jul 02, 2014 louis would later return to japan where he visited the prison holding many of the guards from the pow camp where he was held during the war. His inspiring story of courage, resilience, and faith has captivated readers and audiences of unbroken, now a major motion picture directed by angelina jolie.
His life has inspired a recent biography as well, laura hillenbrands unbroken. Olympian at 5000 meters and the subject of the bestselling book unbroken, has died at age 97 of pneumonia born on january 26, 1917, zamperini was a. A heroic olympians astonishing story of survival as a japanese pow in world war ii reissue edition by zamperini, louis, rensin, david 2011 paperback. A wwii story of survival, resilience, and redemption. The bestselling autobiography of the legendary louis zamperini, hero of the blockbuster unbroken. A world war ii story of survival, resilience, and redemption, brought zamperini renewed fame. The inspirational and extraordinarymemoir of one of the most courageous of the greatest generation, louis zamperini.
A final book of zamperinis life lessons to be released in. Louis would later return to japan where he visited the prison holding many of the guards from the pow camp where he was held during the war. Published february 3rd 2004 by harpercollins first published 1956. Universal pictures first acquired the rights to zamperinis 1956 autobiography. Louis zamperini, olympian and unbroken war survivor.
Devil at my heels signed basis for unbroken by laura hillenbrand hardcover 1956 by louis zamperini author. Writing it reminded me of prison campbut lauras book put me back in that prison. Zamperini wrote two memoirs, both titled devil at my heels, the first published in 1956 and written with helen itria, with a foreword by billy graham, and the second in 2003 with david rensin, with a foreword by sen. Zamperini, louis skip to main search results amazon prime. Louis zamperini was a world war ii prisoner of war and an olympic athlete who became an inspirational figure and writer. Zamperini and his family spoke no english when they moved to california. The bestselling autobiography of the legendary louis zamperini, hero of the blockbuster unbroken a modern classic by an american legend, devil at my heels is the riveting and deeply personal memoir by u. Louie zamperini in california author adventures literary. A modern classic by an american legend, devil at my heels is the riveting and deeply personal memoir by u. First edition stated in a later printing dust jacket. The second book, an updated version of the first was titled devil at my heels.
Stirring memoir of the olympic distance runner and world war ii prisoner of war and his battles with post traumatic stress disorder. The books starts off when he was young and builds up from the beginning to the end. Although reared in a loving family, zamperini was a clever, streetwise delinquent. Louis silvie zamperini january 26, 1917 july 2, 2014. The two collaborated initially to completely rework zamperinis 1956 autobiography devil. Zamperinis two autobiographies bearing the name devil at my heels cowritten. A heroic olympians astonishing story of survival as a japanese pow in world war ii reissue by louis zamperini isbn. Zamperini recalls how he was captured by the japanese in 1943 after his plane went down in the pacific ocean, the two years of imprisonment and torture, his return home after his family was told he was dead, and how he was. Told in louis zamperinis own words, devil at my heels is a stirring memoir from one of the greatest. Louis zamperinis story that the two books offer and to explore how selected.
Olympian, world war ii bombardier, and pow survivor louis zamperini. He took up running in high school and qualified for the us in the 5,000 m race for the 1936 berlin olympics. Devil at my heels ebook 9780061972768 by louis zamperini, david rensin. The incredible saga of a world war ii hero who spent fortyseven days adrift and more than two years as a pow. A ww ii heros epic saga of torment, survival, and forgiveness by louis zamperini, david rensin and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Jolie and based on the bestselling book by laura hillenbrand. His autobiography, devil at my heels, walks readers through these amazing chapters in his life. Zamperini s story was told in his 2003 autobiography devil at my heels, as well as in laura hillenbrands 2010 biography unbroken. Louis zamperini was born in january 1917, in olean, ny. Survival after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, bomber pilots, american personal narratives, converts, track and field athletes, world war, 19391945, survival, biography, japanese prisoners and prisons. Oct 03, 2018 zamperini also went on to become a prominent inspirational speaker, and he wrote two memoirs, both titled devil at my heels 1956 and 2003. Devil at my heels the story of louis zamperini by zamperini, louis with itria, helen. The story of louis zamperini signed by zamperini 1961 at the best online prices at ebay. Zamperini displaying his fitness in later life courtesy of louis zamperini, published in unbroken he published his memoirs in 1956 updated in 2003 under the title devil at my heels.
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our pro connect email. Louis silvie zamperini january 26, 1917 july 2, 2014 was an american world war ii veteran. David rensin worked closely with louis zamperini for many years and cowrote devil at my heels, as well as fifteen other books, including five new york times bestsellers. I wrote my own book called devil at my heels, in 1956. Originally, it was published in 1956 and was to be made into a movie starring tony curtis, but producers found it too challenging to include such an abundant life in one twohour film and gave up. Devil at my heels by louis zamperini, david rensin kirkus. A world war ii heros epic saga of torment, survival, and forgiveness and was written along with david rensin. Olympian at 5000 meters and the subject of the bestselling book unbroken, has died at age 97 of pneumonia born on january 26, 1917, zamperini was a top american. Zamperini first published his incredible story in 1956, telling of his. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. At the time louie knew no english, making him the perfect target for bullies.
Devil at my heels by louis zamperini is an astonishing and way past amazing story about his life. Jul 04, 2014 zamperini wrote two memoirs, both titled devil at my heels, the first published in 1956 and written with helen itria, with a foreword by billy graham, and the second in 2003 with david rensin, with a foreword by sen. Louis zamperini zamperini recalls how he was captured by the japanese in 1943 after his plane went down in the pacific ocean, the two years of imprisonment and torture, his return home after his family was told he. Devil at my heels by louis zamperini, 1956, dutton edition, in english 1st ed. Louis zamperini biography famous people biographies. A world war ii story of survival, resilience, and redemption. Devil at my heels by louis zamperini, david rensin. Devil at my heels the story of louis zamperini for sale. Louis zamperini is best known for laura hillenbrands book unbroken. Survival after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, bomber pilots, american personal narratives, converts, track and field athletes, world war, 19391945. A heroic olympians astonishing story of survival as a japanese pow in world war ii by louis zamperini, david. A modern classic by an american legend, devil at my heels is the riveting and personal memoir by u. Louis zamperini, inspiration for the film unbroken, dead.
Original red papercovered boards, with dark blue titles. His name is on two memoirs titled devil at my heels, one published in 1956, the other in 2003 written with david rensin. His life has inspired a current biography at the same time, laura hillenbrands unbroken. Told in louis zamperinis own words, devil at my heels is a stirring memoir from one of the greatest of the greatest generation, a living document about the brutality of war, the tenacity of the human spirit, and the. He escaped the streets of torrance, california, unscathed during his youth for the love of running.