''The Secret Chord'' (2015) is a novel about King David by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks.

Plot summary

Told from the point of view of the prophet Nathan, this book follows the life of biblical King David.

Factual background

The title is taken from the

Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...

song

Hallelujah ''Hallelujah'' ( ; he, ''haləlū-Yāh'', meaning "praise Yah") is an interjection used as an expression of gratitude to God. The term is used 24 times in the Hebrew Bible (in the book of Psalms), twice in deuterocanonical books, and four tim ...

Critical reception

A reviewer in the

Harvard Crimson The Harvard Crimson are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Harvard College. The school's teams compete in NCAA Division I. As of 2013, there were 42 Division I intercollegiate varsity sports teams for women and men at Harvard, more than ...

described Brooks's use of historical material as "spectacularly accessible."

References

Novels based on the Bible Australian historical novels Novels set in ancient Israel 2015 Australian novels Cultural depictions of David Viking Press books {{2010s-hist-novel-stub