This is a fascinating novel that reimagines the history and forgotten story of America’s pre-eminent racehorse, Lexington.

Horse by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks exemplifies what Brooks does best: crafting a story that recreates and vividly brings to life a dark turbulent period in America’s history when fortunes were built on the slave trade.

Weaving back and forth from modern day to the 1800s, Horse begins with a mystery that unfolds through a number of threads and interesting characters, including Jess, a talented young Australian working for the Smithsonian Museum, and Theo, a young black PhD student trying his hand at journalism. But for me, the most captivating part of the novel is told through Jarrett’s perspective, a young slave boy in the 1860s. His father, Harry Lewis, is a racing horse trainer with exceptional skills that has allowed him to accumulate money to buy his freedom from his owner. When a young, handsome colt is born, it is ‘gifted’ in lieu of wages to Harry. Jarret’s destiny and that of the horse, are sealed from that moment. Against the rising threat of civil war, various threads drive the story: America’s love affair with horse racing; one man’s obsession to win at any cost; and the ‘horse’ and a special relationship with its trainer.

The breadth of Horse is both a great feat of writing and an enjoyable challenge for readers. Highly recommended reading.

Reviewed by Karen Williams