The Secret Chord Summary
Geraldine Brooks

The Secret Chord Overview

The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks is a work of historical fiction that chronicles the life of King David of Israel. Some of David's life story is written in the Old Testaments books of the Bible in 1 and 2 Samuel, but here Brooks fictionalizes the rest of the story and fills in the gaps to paint a fuller picture of who the great leader may have been. Natan the prophet tells the story as he himself is set to work on writing it down for posterity. From David's early childhood days alone in the mountains tending sheep to his old age as an accomplished and weary King and every bit of light and dark in between, David's strengths and failings are portrayed.