Horse Heaven Smiley, Jane

A sprawling, big-hearted novel set in the world of thoroughbred racing, where fortunes are won and lost on four legs and everyone's got skin in the game. Jane Smiley weaves together trainers, owners, jockeys, breeders, and the horses themselves — yes, the horses get their own chapters — into a story that's equal parts drama, comedy, and love letter to the sport. There's a lost stallion, a troubled filly, a marriage on the rocks, and a cast of characters who range from ruthless to deeply decent. Smiley, who won the Pulitzer for *A Thousand Acres*, brings her sharp eye for human (and animal) nature to every page. This is literary fiction that moves at a gallop, full of warmth, wit, and genuine affection for its world. For readers who loved *Seabiscuit*, fans of ensemble novels, or anyone who's ever felt the pull of the track.