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Horse

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Horse

By: Geraldine Brooks
Narrated by: Graham Halstead, James Fouhey, Katherine Littrell, Lisa Flanagan, Michael Obiora
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About this listen

 From the Pulitzer Prize winning author of March and People of the Book comes a vivid and unique new novel for lovers of sweeping historical fiction and books about iconic racehorses like Seabiscuit and Secretariat.

WINNER OF THE FICTION INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023
WINNER OF THE ABIA LITERARY FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2023
WINNER OF THE ANISFIELD-WOLF BOOK AWARDS 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE 2022
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKPEOPLE ADULT FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND FICTION BOOK AWARD 2023
WINNER OF THE DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE FOR FICTION 2023

'He tilted his desk lamp so that the light fell on the image. The head of a bright bay colt gazed out of the canvas, the expression in the eyes unusual and haunting.'

A discarded painting in a roadside clean-up, forgotten bones in a research archive, and Lexington, the greatest racehorse in US history. From these strands of fact, Geraldine Brooks weaves a sweeping story of spirit, obsession and injustice across American history.

Kentucky, 1850. An enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South, even as the nation reels towards war. An itinerant young artist who makes his name from paintings of the horse takes up arms for the Union and reconnects with the stallion and his groom on a perilous night far from the glamour of any racetrack.

New York City, 1954. Martha Jackson, a gallery owner celebrated for taking risks on edgy contemporary painters, becomes obsessed with a nineteenth-century equestrian oil painting of mysterious provenance.

Washington, DC, 2019. Jess, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, find themselves unexpectedly connected through their shared interest in the horse - one studying the stallion's bones for clues to his power and endurance, the other uncovering the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to his racing success.

With the moral complexity of March and a multi-stranded narrative reminiscent of People of the Book, this enthralling novel is a gripping reckoning with the legacy of enslavement and racism in America. Horse is the latest masterpiece from a writer with a prodigious talent for bringing the past to life.

'Geraldine Brooks' soulful tour de force ... The storytelling is magical and so too are the characters, whose pleasure and pain we feel intensely' The Australian Women's Weekly

'Bring[s] to light the way that race and power are encoded into everyday interactions ... a deeply compassionate novel' Weekend Australian

'Brooks' chronological and cross-disciplinary leaps are thrilling... [Horse] is really a book about the power and pain of words... Lexington is ennobled by art and science, and roars back from obscurity to achieve the high status of metaphor' New York Times Book Review

'Strong storytelling in service of a stinging moral message' Kirkus Reviews starred review African American Animals Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction World Literature Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking War American History Sports Animal Sports

Critic Reviews

Historical fiction at its best. Brooks has once more weighed into American history, offering bold characterisation, a compelling story, and a fresh perspective on narratives of self-definition, progress and change'
A splendid novel
With tender precision, Horse shows us history in flux
A novel infused with love, loss and shared history ... Brooks has a knack for writing historical fiction that plugs into the zeitgeist
Geraldine has outdone herself with this sweeping novel that reckons with the legacy of enslavement and racism in America
Horse is a reminder of the simple, primal power an author can summon by creating characters readers care about and telling a story about them (Maggie Shipstead)
Horse isn't just an animal story - it's a moving narrative about race and art
Historical fiction at its finest, connecting threads of the past with the present to illuminate that essentially human something
Geraldine Brooks is one of our most gifted historical novelists
A fascinating saga based on the true story of a famous 19th-century racehorse ... Brooks's multiple narratives and strong character development captivate
Brooks is an accomplished writer ... [She] has a talent and passion for research that is fully expressed here
Few authors can claim the range of Geraldine Brooks ... What truly sets her work apart from many others, however, is the rigorous and extensive nature of her research ... which shines through on every page ... The end result is a deliciously dense, character-rich exploration of the world of horse racing that still manages to make some stinging observations about the modern-day state of race in America
This is a novel about love, anger, passion, and justice - unbridled and bursting
Intelligent and absorbing historical fiction
Brooks' work is suffused with a sense of wonder, love and joy in the living world ... An engaging, anthropomorphic tribute to a champion
Deeply researched and beautifully written historical storytelling
A bold book ... The meticulous attention to detail and deftness of touch are the hallmarks of Brooks' writing
All stars
Most relevant
Full of historic detail supporting the story based on real life in true Geraldine Brooks style

Excellent read

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This story doesn't shy away from the unsavoury truth that racism and white privileged still exists. Artfully entwining the protagonists across centuries through their mutual appreciation and dedication. Although horses and racing is far from an interest of mine, I became enthralled by the descriptions of the connection between beast and human. Once again, Geraldine Brooks has a winner in this book.

Fascinating Factually-based Fiction

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I found it slow to begin with but keep with it you will not be sorry. I really enjoyed how the 2 narratives ran in parallel with the one set in the 1800's was subtly informing the more present day. loved it.

A touching and cleverly written novel

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Multiple storyline’s and groups of characters woven together with sophistication and insight and telling a fascinating story. Geraldine Brooks has amazing talent in her ability to bring characters and settings to life that enrich the readers world. Beautifully written- loved it!

Unique, memorable and beautifully written

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Characters, animal and histories brought to life through a wonderfully written story and wonderfully voiced characters.

A wonderfully told story

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