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A review by hbdee
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
5.0
The story of Lexington, the greatest stud sire of the 19th century, is mostly true. The story of his lifelong partner and trainer, Jarett Lewis, is not--not because such a man never existed, but because the 19th century never saw slaves as people, let alone worthy of biographies. Most of racehorsing's trainers in that century were black men, but that reality is only addressed here, popularly, for the first time. (The Compton Cowboys in California continue this long tradition on a local level.)
The modern story of Theo and Jess is entirely fictional, which does little to soften its ultimate horror; it's a story endlessly repeated in the USA, of young black men (AND women, although that's not addressed here) relentlessly murdered by police without consequence.
This is a novel of great heart and important lessons. My condolences to Brooks, whose husband died during its writing.
The modern story of Theo and Jess is entirely fictional, which does little to soften its ultimate horror; it's a story endlessly repeated in the USA, of young black men (AND women, although that's not addressed here) relentlessly murdered by police without consequence.
This is a novel of great heart and important lessons. My condolences to Brooks, whose husband died during its writing.