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Horse | Geraldine Brooks

Horse | Geraldine Brooks

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Horse: A Novel

ISBN-13 9780399562976
Author Geraldine Brooks
Format Trade Paperback
Publisher Penguin Books
Publication Date January 16, 2024
Page Count 464
Subjects Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, African American Historical Fiction

Extended Synopsis

From a discarded painting in a junk pile to a skeleton in an attic, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks braids together a sweeping narrative of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history. Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse unfolds across three distinct time periods:

  • Kentucky, 1850: An enslaved groom named Jarret forms an unbreakable bond with a bay foal, leading to extraordinary racing success before the nation is torn apart by Civil War.
  • New York City, 1954: A visionary art gallery owner becomes obsessed with a nineteenth-century equestrian painting of unknown origin.
  • Washington, DC, 2019: A Smithsonian scientist and a Nigerian-American art historian are unexpectedly connected through their shared research into the stallion’s bones and the unsung Black horsemen who were essential to his legacy.

Horse is a profound novel of art and science, love and obsession, serving as a powerful reckoning with the hidden history of racism in America.

Reader Targeting

  • Readers of literary historical fiction who appreciate complex, multi-timeline narratives.
  • Fans of Geraldine Brooks and award-winning fiction that explores social justice and untold history.
  • Book clubs interested in deep, character-driven stories about art, history, and humanity.

About the Author

Geraldine Brooks is an Australian-American journalist and novelist who won the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for her novel March. She is celebrated for her ability to bring historical settings to life through rigorous research and evocative prose, making her one of the most respected authors of contemporary literary fiction.

Accolades & Features

Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award; a Finalist for the Chautauqua Prize. This edition includes extensive historical archival source notes and reading group guide resources.


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