The Secret Chord

A moving epic about King David.
Kind David was loved but also hated this book tells his story narrated by his prophet Natan from a boy till old age.
There are some violent scenes of rape and stuff in this book so be aware but that was what it was like back then.
This book was well researched and I loved the characters.
This book will not be for everyone but I thought it was a great read the first for me from this author but not the last.

Summary: This is an interesting historical look at a period of history which is otherwise largely unexplored. I think if you come from a religious background, you may need to accept the fact that there are going to probably be some hard and confronting 'truths' amidst the traditional story of King David.

Note - this book is not crime fiction, although without doubt crimes are committed.
Reading it is part of my quest to widen what I read: to go beyond crime fiction.
I have already read the Pulitzer Prize winning PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by the same author.

When I was a child I had a jigsaw puzzle that showed a young, handsome David slaying Goliath of Gath with his slingshot. That image of David, son of Jesse of Bethlehem, ancestor of Jesus Christ and the reason why he was born in Bethlehem, has stayed with me for well over 60 years. But the picture of David in THE SECRET CHORD is a long way from the sanitised image of my jigsaw puzzle.

The description and account of David in THE SECRET CHORD is seen through the eyes of Natan, David's courtier who at times has prophesied events in David's life, and been at his side for decades. David has commissioned Natan to interview his mother and other family members to learn about the early events of David's life. The king will decide how much of what Natan writes down will be revealed. Natan is well aware that he is treading a dangerous line: the king is volatile and could well turn against him, and his family are not going to be willing to reveal deep secrets willingly.

Eventually we learn David's life history, taking us right through to the declaration of his heir. According to the author "David is the first man in literature whose story is told in detail from early childhood to extreme old age." I was staggered at how violent his life was, how much time was spent in waging war, and how his family almost self-combusted.

A fascinating read.

‘Imagining the life and times of King David.’

In this novel, Geraldine Brooks breathes life into the ancient legend of King David from the Old Testament. Ms Brooks’s portrayal of David covers his journey from obscurity, his transformation from shepherd to soldier, and then to become king, his triumphs and his failures. My recollection of David’s story in the Old Testament is of a hero: a boy with a slingshot who slew the giant Goliath. Of a shepherd boy who rose from obscurity to be King of Israel, and who was the father of Solomon. Beyond that, I remember (or misremember) very little.

Narrated by Natan, David’s personal prophet, ‘The Secret Chord’ describes a very human David, a man who is both noble and flawed, a man with considerable strengths and awful weaknesses. We get impressions of David through the reactions of his wives Mikal, Avigail, and Batsheva, and see him through the eyes of Natan. And David as a father? He fails to be an effective father to all of his children, except in allowing Natan to mentor his lastborn son Shlomo (Solomon). It’s hard to understand how a man so gifted could fail to inculcate any sense of responsibility into his older sons. A curious blindspot in one who could so often read others so well.

This is a novel which incorporates the best and worst of humankind: adventure, beauty, betrayal, drama, fratricide, incest, intrigue, music, romance, sex and violence. At times I felt great sympathy for David, at other times I found his behaviour outrageous. In many ways Natan is the perfect narrator. His gift of prophecy enables him to anticipate some events as well as to add context to others. King David reigned over Israel for almost forty years. In this novel Ms Brooks provides a possible life for him.

Whether you regard the Old Testament as historical fact or allegorical fiction, this novel brings both people and times to life. I enjoyed it very much.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Hachette Australia for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I have enjoyed Geraldine Brooks's previous books, but this one was a stand out for me. I knew little of David's story beyond him slaying Goliath, dancing before the Ark and him mourning Absolom. This book shows David's character, fleshes out other people around him while (according to a colleague who is something of a Bible expert) keeping to the Biblical record. Said colleague also loved this book.