Horse A Novel By Geraldine Brooks

"Horse" by Geraldine Brooks is a masterful narrative that intertwines history, art, and the enduring human spirit. Praised for its thrilling, cross-disciplinary storytelling, the novel delves into America's complex past through the lens of a remarkable racehorse named Lexington.

In 1850 Kentucky, an enslaved groom named Jarret forms a deep bond with a bay foal, leading the horse to legendary victories. Amid the Civil War, an artist known for his equestrian paintings joins the Union forces, later reuniting with Jarret and Lexington in a perilous encounter far from the racetrack's glamour.

In 1954 New York City, Martha Jackson, an avant-garde gallery owner, becomes captivated by a mysterious 19th-century equestrian painting. Decades later, in 2019 Washington, D.C., Jess, a Smithsonian scientist, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, connect through their fascination with Lexington—Jess studying his bones for scientific insights, and Theo uncovering the forgotten stories of Black horsemen integral to his success.

Brooks crafts a powerful tale of obsession, art, and science, revealing how these lives intersect across time. "Horse" explores themes of spirit, injustice, and the unfinished reckoning with racism in America, making it a poignant and compelling read.