Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
I have to admit I knew nothing of this story and the love affair of Mamah Borthwick and the famed architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Even though this is a novel, it is based in factual events of their lives together.
Mamah and her husband, Ed Cheney commission Frank Lloyd Wright to build them a home in the suburbs of Chicago at the turn of the 20th century. Their affair began almost immediately. Mamah was an educated woman and had worked for a time as a librarian before her marriage. For the time, she was very progressive.
On one hand, her husband Ed, was intelligent, hard working, and took good care of Mamah and their children. On the other hand, Mr. Wright was creative and highly self absorbed. Mamah chose the bad boy and once she did nothing in her life would ever be the same. She had found her soul mate in Frank. Because of him however, whenever they were apart, Mamah spent her time trying to repair relationship with her children, her sister and many friends who had been left picking up the pieces for her when she suddenly walked out and left them for Frank.
I often felt Mamah should have given up Frank. But then I had to remember the times she lived in were much different than today. Women were not always free. Ms. Horan did a wonderful job of telling Mamah's story as conflicted as it was. She also painted a very realistic picture of Frank Lloyd Wright and his talent. I never like to give the ending away but since this novel is based on fact, the tragic ending is well documented. We are all free to develop our own opinions but no matter what I think of Mamah and her choices, how this love story ends is devastating.
Loving Frank is historical fiction at its best.
I have to admit I knew nothing of this story and the love affair of Mamah Borthwick and the famed architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Even though this is a novel, it is based in factual events of their lives together.
Mamah and her husband, Ed Cheney commission Frank Lloyd Wright to build them a home in the suburbs of Chicago at the turn of the 20th century. Their affair began almost immediately. Mamah was an educated woman and had worked for a time as a librarian before her marriage. For the time, she was very progressive. On one hand, her husband Ed, was intelligent, hard working, and took good care of Mamah and their children. On the other hand, Mr. Wright was creative and highly self absorbed. Mamah chose the bad boy and once she did nothing in her life would ever be the same. She had found her soul mate in Frank. Because of him however, whenever they were apart, Mamah spent her time trying to repair relationship with her children, her sister and many friends who had been left picking up the pieces for her when she suddenly walked out and left them for Frank.
I often felt Mamah should have given up Frank. But then I had to remember the times she lived in were much different than today. Women were not always free. Ms. Horan did a wonderful job of telling Mamah's story as conflicted as it was. She also painted a very realistic picture of Frank Lloyd Wright and his talent. I never like to give the ending away but since this novel is based on fact, the tragic ending is well documented. We are all free to develop our own opinions but no matter what I think of Mamah and her choices, how this love story ends is devastating.
Loving Frank is historical fiction at its best.
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