A former shepherd boy who has risen from his humble origins to become King of Israel, David’s personality is a mass of contradictions. Natan slowly pieces together the information he is given and a portrait of David begins to emerge: a portrait of a complex, flawed and fascinating human being. And so Natan sets out to speak to David’s family, including several of his wives, recording their thoughts and their memories, before taking up the story himself and remembering the dramatic circumstances of his own first encounter with the king. His friend and prophet, Natan, is given the task of writing the account, but as there’s a limit to how much Natan really knows about David, it’s necessary for him to seek the help of other people who can offer insights into David’s life and character. It tells the story of King David from the Old Testament, and as my knowledge of Biblical kings is almost non-existent, I wasn’t at all sure what to expect from this book!Īs the novel opens, David has decided that he wants the story of his life written down so that people will know what he was like, not just as a king but as a man. I was pleased to have an opportunity to read her latest novel, The Secret Chord, even though the subject didn’t initially sound very appealing to me. Full of drama and richly drawn detail, THE SECRET CHORD is a vivid story of faith, family, desire and power that brings David magnificently alive.I hadn’t read anything by Geraldine Brooks until now, but I had heard so much praise for her books that I knew I would have to try one of them eventually.

With stunning originality, acclaimed author Geraldine Brooks offers us a compelling portrait of a morally complex hero from this strange age - part legend, part history. It falls to Natan, the courtier and prophet who both counsels and castigates David, to tell the truth about the path he must take. His wives love and fear him, his sons will betray him. In a life that arcs from obscurity to fame, he is by turns hero and traitor, glamorous young tyrant and beloved king, murderous despot and remorseful, diminished patriarch. But his journey is a tumultuous one and the consequences of his choices will resound for generations. The time of King David.Īnointed as the chosen one when just a young shepherd boy, David will rise to be king, grasping the throne and establishing his empire.

The secret chord author