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The concept of mixing art history with early thoroughbred horse racing in America may seem bizarre, almost silly even. However, this work smoothly combines the mid-19th-century story of thoroughbred horse Lexington with multiple paintings that are discovered (and rediscovered) in 2019.
Both tales are interwoven expertly as the chapters shift back and forth in time to disclose the details of all of the players in a handful of dramas. We meet the original Cassius Clay (after whom the famous boxer and his father are named). His story intersects with that of Jarret, an enslaved groom. In our time, we peer over Theo’s shoulder as he pieces together the mystery surrounding a discarded oil painting. Although it can be a challenge to keep up with over a dozen main characters in this volume, the focus on the horse as a character helps make it work.
The careful reader will want to have a dictionary or thesaurus handy for the many archaic terms that pepper the story. Personally, I felt addlepated, as a parvenu would when encountering a soigné jimberjawed wight near a coppice. You get the idea. Some authors utilize these terms to show off, but one does not get that sense here. Rather, these gently sprinkled idioms bring a feeling of authenticity to the historical nature of the narrative and are really fun.
Professionally, I was a bit dismayed at the overuse of the term “vet” instead of the more proper “veterinarian.” We members of that noble profession prefer all six syllables and cringe when we read “I’m a vet by training,” even when uttered by a fictional colleague. It may be different in Australia (the author’s native land), but if you are going to set your work in the United States, well, ask around a bit.
All of the horse-centric portions are not only absolutely correct, they are also so well scribed! Few writers have the background with these majestic creatures as well as the editorial skill to relate the level of detail found herein. There is a wide gulf between representations of horses by those who admire them versus those who really know them. It was refreshing to experience the latter this time around.
Sadly, this marvelous book about a legendary animal is inhumanely euthanatized in the final moments thanks to a steep and jarring descent into the tempestuous territory of Black Lives Matter and anti-Trumpism. Throughout, the book contains plenty of preaching about climate change, racism, slavery, and horse racing, but the discordant termination does not mesh at all with anything previous. It almost feels as though the whole project was not much more than an opportunity for the author to rant about these things.
Rated: High. (bordering moderate) Profanity includes 4 instances of strong language, one exceedingly crude epithet, and two dozen instances of mild to moderate profanity. There are subtle references to a same-gender relationship.
