I have mixed feelings about this work. I was initially drawn in by the hope of romance (given the subtitle), but this book didn’t deliver. Though letters between the titular characters are included, they are never offered in their entirety. Also, as much as I hate to say it, it seems entirely possible to interpret Eleanor and Hick’s relationship as entirely platonic based on what’s presented. In short, a subtitle like “A Love Affair That Shaped a First Lady,” sets certain expectations.
Second, the nature of Eleanor’s position and responsibilities (not to mention her marriage) meant she could never be fully committed to any single person. I understand that there are many ways to love and be loved, but it took away from the romance narrative mentioned above. This was made even more frustrating by the presence of a few lesbian couples throughout the narrative. I longed to hear their stories, even if they weren’t as, “historically important.”
Third, the book is long, clocking in at 14 hours. In a way, this makes sense; the work spans decades and two world wars. I certainly give the author points for the amount of research it must’ve taken to produce this work. It also means there is a large cast of characters and interpersonal relationships to keep track of. It makes me wonder if there wasn’t a more focused narrative to be found in the book. Towards the end, I had to increase the narration speed to get through.
Lastly, two things surprised me about this book. I was surprised by the use of racial epithets, even if they were used “in context.” Also, I feel like the issue of nuclear weapons was glossed over, especially given Eleanor’s record of human rights champion. I can’t imagine she’d have so little to say on the matter. It could have came up when I dosed off in the throws of WW2, but I wasn’t willing to go back and check.
Ultimately, this book was an interesting read as a historical narrative, but not really as a romance. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, but it wasn’t really what I signed up for (especially at the length). You might like this work if you are a history buff or you are fascinated by Eleanor Roosevelt. If you are looking for anything beyond that, however, you are likely to be disappointed.
Check it out here.
You may also enjoy…
- “The Half-Life of Marie Curie,” by Lauren Gunderson
- “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,” by Alison Bechdel
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