Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart [Paperback]

Martha Hart (Author), Eric Francis (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2004

Owen's wife Martha, tells the story of their life together from the days as high school sweethearts, through Owen's rise to fame in the WWF.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: M.Evans & Company (January 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590770366
• ISBN-13: 978-1590770368
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #526,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Painful Read..., March 28, 2004

By 

"caseyatthebat" (LaCrosse, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart (Paperback)

I've read nearly every wrestling book out there. From the WWE produced biographies (Mick Foley's two books, Chyna, Kurt Angle, Freddie Blassie), the WWE produced coffee table books (WrestleMania, Unscripted) to independant looks at wrestling (Pro Wrestling for Dummies, Sex, Lies and Headlocks, WrestleCrap), they all offer varying views on the hobby I am most passionate about. This book, however, sets itself apart for many different reasons.
Martha Hart, as part of a promise she made to herself shortly after Owen died, wrote this book under a very heavy heart. I was prepared for that when I started to read it. I also tried to be prepared for a personal attack on the world of wrestling. She definately has a reason for that. However, I was not expecting the level of bitterness she showed to most of Owen's life.
There are two different areas to where she spews her hatred: The (at the time) WWF, and the Hart family. In reguards to the Hart family, with the exception of Bret, she paints a dismal picture, most of which senitments she writes Owen shared. She is constantly judgmental of the family that raised Owen.
In reguards to the WWF, nothing is sacred. Not one word of good was at all written about wrestling. As a matter of fact, you can see disdain (which seems engrained in her from her childhood) in every paragraph. She regularly refers to wrestlers as "uneducated mucleheads as a whole," and the reader gets the picture that she thinks about the same of the fans. Think, Martha, who is going to buy this book?
As for the positives, the behind-the-investigation report of Owen's death is amazingly in depth. However, due to marred facts that run through the book (Owen was never at fault for breaking Steve Austin's neck in 1997, as contrary to video evidence, Al Snow carried a severed woman's head instead of a mannequin head.) I really have questions to the accuracy of it all. The book also allows the reader glimpses of how the family dealt with the death, and the aftermath. Although dripping with bitterness during these parts as well, it is interesting.
Overall, it was tough for me to continue reading through some of the backhanded insults that I felt were directed towards myself as a wrestling fan, but I'm glad that I picked the book up. I understand that pro-wrestling is a very different business, but it isn't as disgustingly horrible as Hart paints it out to be.
I miss Owen Hart's entertaining in ring work. It saddens me that he leaves behind a family with two little children. I wish Martha nothing but good luck and happy times for the rest of her life, but this book really does nothing but trash wrestling. I reccomend this to Owen Hart fans, or people who hate Vince. Other than that, don't pick it up.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly moving, sorrowful story., May 14, 2005

By 

Patricia Wray (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart (Paperback)

When Owen Hart died in 1999, I wasn't a wrestling fan. But the incident did shock me, as I always considered wrestling to be fake. All I thought of the incident was 'Man, that's terrible for his family.' But after reading this book, it feels like my heart was ripped out of my chest from the shock and tears I shed over it.

This book by his widow, Martha Hart, opened my eyes to a whole different spectrum. Her story is so terribly sad, and it's very clear that she loved Owen very much and still does. I've read from many people just how nice of a guy Owen was and how much he loved his family. In a business where family values means almost nothing, he seemed to be the best of them morally.

I was completely shocked by the details of his fall. I knew that he had fallen from such a high height, but I never imagined what was revealed here. The utter negligence of what is considered a multi-million dollar company is absolutely appaling and disgusting. But what also shocked me was the grueling details of Owen's injuries when he landed. I could barely get through that chapter without crying, but I can understand why Martha did that. Not only did it let everyone know that Owen was still alive when he landed (though considered clinically dead) but he was also in a lot of pain. I was also pleased to see that she had gone into detail about how the wrestler's took to it, considering how critical she is of the business.

What I find odd is some of the complaints by other reviewers that she is too critical of the WWE and the Hart family. Do me a favor; go take a glance at Diana's book, filled with the ugliest things about her family (most of them not true) and you can see why Martha is so critical of Owen's family, especially Diana and Ellie. I mean, when your husband dies and you expect some measure of support and several of his siblings kiss his employer's, the man who was partially responsible for his death butt, then you would get a little upset too, right? I was pleased that some of the siblings, most predominantly Bret, assisted her when she needed help.

As for the WWE...let's be serious. Owen died doing a stunt he was forced into doing by Vince, who was too cheap to hire a proper stunt coordinator and proper equipment. Not only that but while Vince notified Martha that something bad happened to Owen, he was too cowardly to call her back; he had Linda do it and then avoided it. Not to mention he didn't hesitate to say that it was all Owen's fault; he _must've_ released on his own. And what is most offensive is the fact that, against Martha's wishes, he showed footage of Owen's funeral on Raw. And when Martha sued him for wrongful death and negligence he had the nerve to countersue, saying she was violating Owen's contract!!

I have the utmost respect for Martha. I think her feelings are justified and she handled herself very well during such a horrible time. I've never liked Vince, but now I'm completely disgusted with him. I use to watch his shows, mainly during Mick Foley's commisioner days, but now I'll never watch anything of his again. His complete disregard for his employees and his unprofessionalism during that time is inexcusable. And Ellie and Diana should be ashamed of themselves for selling their dead brother out just to secure jobs for their husbands and children. This is one of the best books I've ever read and I recommend it to anyone. I just warn you of its content and to have a box of tissues nearby.

God bless you Martha, Oje, and Athena and God bless Owen.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very honest tale of a super Husband, Father, and Wrestler, June 26, 2004

By 

Brandon A Price (Knoxville Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart (Paperback)

this is a very sad book. if you have read mick foley's first book(Have A Nice Day) then you know how much of a family man Owen was. Well this book only shared more of this great man life. He had values that would not be compromised in any way. You couldnt buy Owen. He was probably the most moral man in the sport at that time, and truley loved his wife and family. This tragic book chronicles his life, growing up in the Hart family home and business(which was wrestling), meeting the love of his life(which he couldnt have found a better woman), establishing himself in the wrestling busines(that he honestly despised, but it paid the bills), and the sad way Mr. Hart had to leave us all. It also chronicals the lawsuit following his death, and the literal hell his beloved wife went through following his death. This is a must read if you were a Owen Hart fan. A truely heart touching and wrenching novel. Thank you Martha Hart for sharing with us things that you didnt have to, but you chose to. So thanks again.