Horse

Geraldine Brooks tracks the history of Lexington, a record-breaking 19th-century Thoroughbred, across three distinct timelines. In the 1850s, Jarrett, an enslaved groom, forms an unbreakable bond with the stallion as they navigate the American Civil War. In 1954, a gallery owner becomes fixated on a portrait of the horse. By 2019, a Smithsonian scientist and a Nigerian-American art historian collaborate to reconcile the animal’s skeletal remains with its painted likeness, uncovering the systemic racism embedded in American horse racing history.

Historical fiction enthusiasts and those interested in the intersection of art and science will find value in this narrative. Readers gain a technical understanding of equine anatomy and the meticulous process of oil painting restoration. The book provides a look at how black laborers built the foundational wealth of the American turf while simultaneously being erased from the official record. It leaves the reader with a clear view of how historical injustices persist in modern academic and social institutions.