Description

Join Penny Foley for a discussion of Horse by Geraldine Brooks. The book begins in 2019 when Theo, a young Black doctoral student in art history, is working on a magazine article and glances out the window of his apartment.  When he sees his elderly white neighbor trying to bring an old recliner out her front door, he immediately goes to assist her in carrying it to the curb.  The lady motions towards the pile and tells Theo he can take what he wants.  Theo salvages a painting of a horse and carries it home. Later Theo meets Jess, the manager of the osteology lab at the Smithsonian. Jess recently was tasked with finding a misplaced skeleton of a famous horse that turns out to be the horse in Theo’s painting. The story shifts to an earlier time (1850-1875) when horseracing was a competitive industry of white prestige. In 1853, the racehorse Darley (later renamed Lexington) wins his first race and attracts a lot of attention.  Dr. Warfield entered Darley in the race, but the horse actually belonged to Harry Lewis, a renowned horse trainer who purchased his freedom from the doctor. There were rules that forbade Black men from entering a horse in a race. Richard Ten Broeck threatens to reveal the true owner of the horse.  Knowing that his reputation is at stake, Dr. Warfield agrees to sell Darley and the slave boy Jarret who has a strong connection with the horse. This bond will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. The story also explores racism in the past and present. Come having read the book and be ready for a great discussion.