"Loving Frank"

"Loving Frank" is a novel by Nancy Horan based on the true affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney.  After Edwin Cheney and his wife, Mamah, commissioned Frank to design a new home for them in Oak Park, Il (a Chicago suburb), the Cheneys became friends with Frank and his wife.  Eventually Frank and Mamah became lovers and decided to leave their spouses and children to be with each other.  It was quite a scandal in the 1920's and eventually Mamah won a divorce from Edwin with summer visitation by her children.  Frank's wife would not grant him a divorce, however, so Frank continued to support her and his children while building a new home, Taliesin, in Wisconsin for he and Mamah.

The relationship took a toll on their friendships and their families as well as on Frank's career but they appear to have been kindred spirits.  Frank had a big ego and Mamah seemed destined to be an "independent" woman and they were suited to each other and remained together until her death.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fictional account of their romance and was so interested in Mamah and her ability to break away from the traditional female roles of her time that I decided to look her up and learn more about her before I finished the book.  That was a mistake!  If you don't already know the story, I highly recommend you finish reading the book before researching her further!  pazt