Loving Frank

A Novel

By: Nancy Horan

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of The House of Lincoln, an “enthralling” novel that brings “the buried truths of the ill-starred relationship of Mamah Borthwick Cheney and Frank Lloyd Wright to light” (The New York Times Book Review).

“Masterful.”—People

“A fascinating love story.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Truly artful fiction.”—The New York Times

“I have been standing on the side of life, watching it float by. I want to swim in the river. I want to feel the current.”

So writes Mamah Borthwick Cheney in her diary as she struggles to justify her clandestine love affair with Frank Lloyd Wright. Four years earlier, in 1903, Mamah and her husband, Edwin, had commissioned the renowned architect to design a new home for them. During the construction of the house, a powerful attraction developed between Mamah and Frank, and in time the lovers, each married with children, embarked on a course that would shock Chicago society and forever change their lives.

Drawing on years of research, Horan weaves little-known facts into a compelling narrative, vividly portraying the conflicts and struggles of a woman forced to choose between the roles of mother, wife, lover, and intellectual. Mamah’s is an unforgettable journey marked by choices that reshape her notions of love and responsibility, leading inexorably to this novel’s stunning conclusion.

Elegantly written and remarkably rich in detail, Loving Frank is a fitting tribute to a courageous woman, a national icon, and their timeless love story.

Winner of the James Fenimore Cooper Prize for Best Historical Fiction • One of the Best Books of the Year: The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor

©2007 Nancy Horan (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“[A] thoughtful debut novel [that] pits morality against passion . . . the perfect selection to jump-start some satisfyingly heated arguments within your book club.”—USA Today

“The powerful writing imbues the tale with the terrible inevitability of a Greek tragedy.”—Chicago

“Loving Frank reveals what we expect to get from great fiction: timeless truths about ourselves.”—New York Daily News

How life was for women in the early 1900’s. The tragedy that Frank Lloyd Wright endured.

I enjoyed the story and had no idea of the tragedy in Wright’s life. I have admired his since my drafting class in my junior year of High School. I have books of homes as well as buildings he helped design. I wrote a paper about him for my staging class.
I have been to Taliesin East and West as well as his home and studio in Oak Park. I have enjoyed touring buildings in both CA (San Rafael Civic Center) as well as Arizona.
I was able to get my junior high teaching job in 1970 because I could teach drafting, math, and art. I taught many other subjects in my 37 year career at the same junior high school in Fremont!

Struggled at times but the ending, wow!

I really struggled with the author’s attempt to make the reader have pity on the main characters. Sorry. I couldn’t. They were both selfish people who made self absorbed decisions. They thought so highly of themselves they really didn’t care about the consequences of their actions. I would have stopped reading several times, but I was told the ending was quite unexpected. They were right. Wow!

Good History of FLW

The historical novel gave a good depiction of Frank Lloyd Wright. His character is described the same way in every account I have read. Even with his arrogance and disregard for others, I believe him to be a genius architect.

FLW and his mistress…

I thought the book seemed light on ample detail of FLW’s upbringing, and the writing / narration was simple. I didn’t care for the narration that much, but found myself on an 8 hr road trip and looking to finish the story. Seemed to end abruptly… not much closure.

Should Have Read Myself

I enjoyed this story-however, the narration bothered & distracted me. The children voices sounded unrealistic and the male voices sounded stern & angry. Female narration was ok but over & over again I was wishing I was reading on my own vs. listening to the audio. I am a Frank Lloyd Wright fan so that alone intrigued me to listen through to completion.

Tragic Choices

The selfishness of the main character and the arrogance of Chicagoians toward Wisconsinites are a couple of things, (there were many) I found disturbing about this story. The latter issue is not exclusive to Illinois- Wisconsin. The story of City Mouse and Country Mouse comes to mind…
Illinois people should remain in Illinois if they feel it is superior to Wisconsin. This was apparently an issue then and continues today. Fill in the blank: ——- people should stay in —— if they think it is superior to ——.
As for woman’s suffrage, leaving your children to go to Europe and live a life footloose and fancy free is disgusting. The main character (with her ridiculous name and all) felt she should have been entitled to doing just that and having her kids too. Ugh! The book was well written, but there was way too much focus on woman’s rights issue…
The performance was good. The story was interesting and sadly, based on actual accounts.
Not saying the ending wasn’t tragic, but I can see why the nut-job found her privileged life disturbing.
The book inspired me to research more on Frank Loyd Wright and enlightened me on his work, career, and personal life. It was a good read.

Riveting

This book kept me engaged from beginning to end. I loved it. An amazing story!

great story

it took me a little time to get use to the narrator's voice. It was a bit robotic to me. the story was compelling enough to keep listening.

Amazing story

Loving Frank is a captivating and beautifully written book that delves into the complexities of love and personal fulfillment. One of the standout characters, Mamah, truly stole my heart with her courageous pursuit of happiness. Throughout the novel, Mamah follows her heart, taking the risk of leaving behind a stable life in search of a love that fulfills her deeply.

What struck me the most about Mamah was her unwavering belief in herself and her ability to find happiness. Despite the societal expectations placed upon women during that time period, she defied the norm and fearlessly pursued her own desires. It was inspiring to see a character who was willing to challenge the status quo and embrace change in order to create a life that brought her joy.

Mamah's role as a loving mother added another layer of depth to her character. Her dedication to her children was evident in every decision she made, and her kindness and passion shone through in her interactions with them. It was refreshing to see a portrayal of a woman who could balance her own desires with her responsibilities as a mother.

The book left me with a deep sense of longing and a desire to know more about Mamah's journey. The author did a phenomenal job of crafting a story that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The emotions and experiences depicted were so vivid and authentic that I found myself truly invested in the characters and their lives.

Overall, Loving Frank is an incredible read that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery. Mamah's character is one that will stay with me for a long time, reminding me of the power of following one's heart and finding happiness within oneself. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant story.

Loving Frank, who wasn’t easy to love

I had no knowledge of FLW’s life prior to this read. What an odd and fascinating and sad era of his life. I couldn’t love him; thought he was an arrogant ass. I can appreciate him and his talents, though.