Horse by Geraldine Brooks
“Horse,” by Geraldine Brooks, is a timely work of historical fiction. The narrative touches on issues of race, class and privilege, yet at its heart, it is a story of perseverance and survival. The book spans multiple eras, ranging from 1850 through 1875, to the 1950s, and 2019 through early 2020. Brooks writes with skillful intention in crafting a story replete with resonating themes that serve to bridge the narratives and create a unified message to the work.
“Horse” is a story about horses: About the history and heritage of horse racing and horse breeding. “Horse” is also about history itself: How artifacts and stories span ages and serve to reveal tales long lost to the ravages of time. Yet, ultimately, “Horse” is about humanity, and how the inhumane treatment of people and animals devalues us all.
Our earliest tale begins in a pre-Civil War Kentucky, and primarily follows an enslaved groom, Jarret, as he raises and cares for a prodigious racehorse, Lexington. Jarret’s fortunes rise and fall over the course of the tale as he is sold repeatedly, survives the Civil War, yet his fate inevitably remains intertwined with that of Lexington.
The 2019 story follows Jess and Theo, two young professionals who are drawn together while unearthing pieces of history surrounding Lexington. Jess, a Caucasian from Australia, and Theo, an African American raised abroad, are both woefully ignorant of the extent of the racial issues facing a 2019 America. The distinct threads of racism and inequity span the 150-plus year gap between these two stories and serve to undergird the poignancy of Brooke’s work.
“Horse” should appeal to fans of historical fiction, stories of survival and perseverance, and those willing to look at the enduring systemic racial failings of our nation.
Reviewed by Jonathan Jakobitz, Blaine Library branch manager, Whatcom County Library System
(Originally published in The Northern Light, Wednesday, October 4, 2023.)