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 … 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.
In this ambitious debut novel, fact and fiction blend together brilliantly. While scholars have largely relegated Mamah to a footnote in the life of America’s greatest architect, author Nancy Horan gives full weight to their dramatic love story and illuminates Cheney’s profound influence on Wright.
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. Horan’s Mamah is a woman seeking to find her own place, her own creative calling in the world. Mamah’s is an unforgettable journey marked by choices that reshape her notions of love and responsibility, leading inexorably ultimately lead 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.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Nancy Horan’s Under the Wide and Starry Sky.
Advance praise for Loving Frank:
“Loving Frank is one of those novels that takes over your life. It’s mesmerizing and fascinating–filled with complex characters, deep passions, tactile descriptions of astonishing architecture, and the colorful immediacy of daily life a hundred years ago–all gathered into a story that unfolds with riveting urgency.”
–Lauren Belfer, author of City of Light
“This graceful, assured first novel tells the remarkable story of the long-lived affair between Frank Lloyd Wright, a passionate and impossible figure, and Mamah Cheney, a married woman whom Wright beguiled and led beyond the restraint of convention. It is engrossing, provocative reading.”
——Scott Turow
“It takes great courage to write a novel about historical people, and in particular to give voice to someone as mythic as Frank Lloyd Wright. This beautifully written novel about Mamah Cheney and Frank Lloyd Wright’s love affair is vivid and intelligent, unsentimental and compassionate.”
——Jane Hamilton
“I admire this novel, adore this novel, for so many reasons: The intelligence and lyricism of the prose. The attention to period detail. The epic proportions of this most fascinating love story. Mamah Cheney has been in my head and heart and soul since reading this book; I doubt she’ ll ever leave.”
–Elizabeth Berg
more
The true story of Frank Lloyd Wright’s affair with Mamah Borthwick Cheney and her horrific end, originally a client, is shocking, sad and fascinating. Does genius get a morality pass? This novel not only tells their story, but Frank’s, ho turns out to be an egomaniac, womanizer, narcissist, yet unparalleled genius, not in doubt about his …
I must say I was somewhat perplexed at the venom hurled at Mahmah and Frank by reviewers. It is interesting that the book was disparaged because of many reader’s personal judgment on the morality of the choices made by Frank and Mahmah. Personally, I thought the book was well written. The untold story of this great love affair, whether morally …
Wow! What a read. This is so interesting and informative about Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s an incredible love story and quite thought provoking.
Mamah’s story will haunt you forever.
Pleasantly surprised! I did not pick the book, suggested to me, I cannot put it down. I love memoir and this is fiction – but a true story in disguise – and I love it.
Always interesting to get a glimpse–fictionalized or not- into the life of a well known person.
Neither particularly well written, nor particularly interesting.
Fascinating story about an amazing man and his personal life as well as his career that lives on and on touching so many lives.
Loved the fictionalization if Frank Lloyd Wright from the perspective of his wife! Genius is not bred by a contented soul.
Had read this book and then it was chosen by my Book Group so I reread it and found it even better the second time around. Really well written and interesting.
Nancy Horan writes in a manner that makes you think her novel is more biography than novel. She gives and in-depth look at Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress, Mamah, from Mamah’s point of view. The emotions involved in her decision making are well described.
Hard to put down. Mamah was a powerful yet loving woman. Her life and romance with Frank Lloyd Wright was turbulent. Very well written.
I found this book fascinating and interesting. I was surprised Frank Lloyd Wright had a mistress that he dearly loved. He tried to get his wife to divorce him so he could marry her. She had divorced from her husband to marry Frank. The twists and turns the two go through to be together is a love story that is hard to digest during the times. But …
I totally loved this book and would certainly recommend it.
This book is so well written! I couldn’t put it down.
Loved this book
I read “Loving Frank” for a book group, about nine years ago. We had the best discussion ever. We did not agree with one another but we all thought it was a great book. Ihaven’t Been able to admire Frank Loydd Wright ever since.
I enjoyed it.
This was an interesting and tragic book. Although not factual, the author pulled together a great work of fiction using historical data. A good book, and it made me thankful for my life and the choices I’ve made.
Well written and well researched; impressive blend of fact and fiction; great character development; they still feel real and alive in my life!