The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks

This is the surprising, shocking, incredible story of King David. Historical fiction at its best, really. Not having had a religious education, and not being Jewish more to the point I think, I knew nothing about David except for the Goliath story and an awareness of passing references to the City of David. I was also aware that the Old Testament stories are bloody and violent. So I wasn’t quite prepared for the scope and action of this story, which strikes me as rather like a biblical version of Game of Thrones with its murder and incest, homosexuality, rape, wars and mysticism. As always Geraldine Brooks has done her homework, even if the sources are limited secondaries. She tells the story of David’s life with welcome embroideries, from the time he is a shunned child sent to mind the goats through his rise on the battlefield to power to his failings and ultimate punishment. The word of ‘the Name’ runs right through the story, lending some terrific mysticism to the story. This isn’t March, though. It’s a great rollicking yarn, without the subtlety of March or the insight into its tortured protagonist. All the same, it’s a gripping read and not to be missed.