HORSE by Geraldine Brooks: A Sweeping Tale of History, Obsession, and Injustice
Discover the intertwined stories of a discarded painting, a skeleton in an attic, and the legendary racehorse Lexington in HORSE by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks. This compelling novel weaves together themes of spirit, obsession, and injustice across different periods in American history.
In Kentucky, 1850: An enslaved groom named Jarret forms a deep bond with a bay foal, who will go on to achieve record-setting victories across the South. As the Civil War erupts, an itinerant artist known for his paintings of the racehorse joins the Union army. On a fateful night, he crosses paths with the stallion and his groom far from the racetrack’s glamour.
In New York City, 1954: Martha Jackson, a daring gallery owner known for her interest in edgy contemporary art, becomes captivated by a mysterious nineteenth-century equestrian painting.
And in Washington, DC, 2019: Jess, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, find themselves connected through their shared fascination with the horse. Jess studies the stallion’s bones for clues to his power and endurance, while Theo uncovers the overlooked history of the Black horsemen who played a crucial role in the horse’s racing success.
HORSE is a richly layered novel based on the true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington. It explores the intersection of art and science, love and obsession, and America’s ongoing reckoning with racism.
