Henry Forge, a young
boy who has just killed a neighbor's bull, runs through the cornfield
to escape the thrashing he knows his father will give him. A horse
appears in the field ridden by Filip, a black man who works for
Henry's father. Filip coaxes the boy on to the horse, but instead of
taking him for a ride, he deposits him with his father. Henry insists
that he's not guilty. His father knows this is a lie, and it makes
the beating worse, but Henry, unrepentant, comes away with a hatred
of his father that plays out in the rest of the novel.
The Forges are one
of the oldest families in Kentucky. Their long lineage is a tale of
corn farmers who own huge tracts of land and slavery. Henry informs
his father that he will change all that. He plans to turn the farm
into a stable for raising thoroughbred horses. His father,
exceedingly angry, tells Henry that he has no feel for his own
bloodlines. However, when Henry becomes the owner of the farm, he
does exactly what he said. With the help of his daughter Henriettta,
a black man named Allmon, and a filly named Hellsmouth, he plans to
change the orientation of the family.
This is one of the
most beautifully written books I have read in a long time. The words
are lyrical and the images vivid. Unfortunately, many of the images
have to do with rape, violence, incest and cruelty. All these dark
acts are the substance of the story which is essentially about
racism. It is not an easy book to read.
The main characters
Henry, Henrietta, and Allmon are not likable people. In spite of the
excellent writing, they left me cold. The secondary characters are
much more interesting, including Ruben, the jockey who rides
Hellsmouth.
The setting is vivid
and the many threads of the plot are expertly drawn together. If you
enjoy a beautifully written novel that gives much to think about,
you'll enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.
I received this book
from Net Galley for this review.
No comments:
Post a Comment