The Sport of Kings

A Novel

By: C. E. Morgan

Narrated by: George Newbern

Hellsmouth, an indomitable thoroughbred with the blood of Triple Crown winners in her veins, runs for the glory of the Forge family, one of Kentucky's oldest and most powerful dynasties. Henry Forge has partnered with his daughter, Henrietta, in an endeavor of raw obsession: to breed the next superhorse, the next Secretariat. But when Allmon Shaughnessy, an ambitious young black man, comes to work on their farm after a stint in prison, the violence of the Forges' history and the exigencies of appetite are brought starkly into view. Entangled by fear, prejudice, and lust, the three tether their personal dreams of glory to the speed and grace of Hellsmouth.

A spiraling tale of wealth and poverty, racism and rage, The Sport of Kings is an unflinching portrait of lives cast in shadow by the enduring legacy of slavery. A vital new voice, C. E. Morgan has given life to a tale as mythic and fraught as the South itself - a moral epic for our time.

©2016 C. E. Morgan (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

the great American novel

loved it. it was like a 21st century Moby Dick, dealing with the big themes in American history. Slavery, racism, unequal distribution of wealth, all woven into a compelling story. the characters are so vivid, and the writing and voices of the characters is so true, unique, and compelling. I didn't want it to end.

life-altering

This book digs deeply into the lines of our Kentuckian family tree in ways that blew me away again and again.

Ok...that's it

I thought it was little more drawn out then it needed to be, the author spent a lot of time developing the characters but none of them seemed to have any real depth. The story to me just played out every stereo type of each race and it followed the typical sad ending we have heard so many times in real life, just change the occupation and water the polarity. The story wasn't surprising, I wouldn't listen to it again.

Amazing and timely

Beautifully written about family, horse racing, the legacy of slavery and strong women who aren't as strong as they'd like to be. With health care hanging in the balance for so many of our citizens, hearing how Allmon's mother couldn't get the medicines and attention she desparately needed was painful, painful. And why, if you need money, you'll turn to the street corners to sell if there's no other way. This is a book that you may consider long after you finish.

This one is all over the place

Would you listen to The Sport of Kings again? Why?

I will definitely listen to this again in hopes that I'll pick up on more of the nuances.

Any additional comments?

Being a Kentucky girl, I loved the subject matter and setting (primarily the beautiful Horse Country and farms around Paris and Versailles). The story was breathtaking in spurts, but at times it felt like I was trapped in a Terrence Malick movie. I'm still not sure what actually happened to Allmon, but I liked the book enough to listen to again to try and sort it out.