Geraldine Brooks | Horse

Geraldine Brooks won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for her novel March, a retelling of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women from the patriarch's perspective.

Brooks has written other internationally best-selling works, including fiction and non-fiction such as Nine Parts of Desire, The Hidden World of Islamic Women, Caleb's Crossing, Foreign Correspondents, The Secret Chord, and People of the Book.

A former war correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, Brooks was awarded the 2010 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Lifetime Achievement and named an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2016.

Her latest novel, Horse, is based on the true story of a champion thoroughbred horse named Lexington, exploring three generations tied together by the horse and the injustice in American history.

Brooks grew up in the inner city of Sydney with no exposure to horses, but became the racing correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald, providing detailed race information.

Brooks' early exposure to journalism was at age eight when she visited her father at a local newspaper, where she was captivated by the printing press process.

Brooks has a personal connection to the transgender community, having grown up with a transgender cousin, and advocates for kindness towards this vulnerable group.

Her relationship with horses began late in life during a writer's retreat in Santa Fe, where she was invited to go on a trail ride and fell in love with horseback riding.

Brooks' first novel, Year of Wonders, was inspired by a self-imposed challenge to write a story without her journalist background, leading to a successful transition to fiction writing.

The skeleton of Lexington, the 19th-century racehorse, was moved from the Natural History Museum to the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington, Kentucky, sparking Brooks' interest in his story.

Brooks' research for her novel on Lexington revealed the significant role of black, enslaved individuals in the success of thoroughbred racing during the 19th century.

The contemporary storyline in Brooks' novel involves the Smithsonian Institution and the scientific study of bones, including Lexington's.

A painting of Lexington by 19th-century artist Thomas Scott is a key element in Brooks' novel, connecting the historical and contemporary narratives.

Brooks' novel Horse has been optioned for a movie by a producer who has experience adapting challenging novels for the screen, such as Life of Pi and Where the Crawdads Sing.

Brooks is working on a short memoir called Memorial Days, reflecting on her experiences with grief and loss following her husband's sudden death.

Brooks expresses concern about the current state of thoroughbred racing, particularly the breeding of fragile horses and the use of drugs like Lasix.

Brooks' personal experiences with horses, including adopting an off-the-track racehorse, inform her perspectives on the racing industry and the importance of aftercare for retired racehorses.