The Three Graces of Val-Kill

August 1, 2017

Wilson (No One Gardens Alone) provides a succinct, inspirational, and intimate look at the friendship former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt shared with two free-spirited women in the home they created together two miles east of the "Big House" in Hyde Park, NY. Marion Dickerman and Nancy Cook were Democratic fieldworkers and lifelong partners who worked with Eleanor on a variety of projects, including the Todhunter School on New York's East Side and Val-Kill Industries, a furniture factory that provided jobs to rural farmers. Included are details about the home's financing, construction, and furnishing, and details of the role that President Franklin D. Roosevelt played in its inception. Based on archival research and interviews, Wilson's narrative describes the role that female friendships played throughout Eleanor's life, specifically during the 1920s. The author skillfully interweaves the story of Val-Kill with larger themes in her subject's life, such as Eleanor's troubled marriage, children's relationships, and personal and political friendships. VERDICT For general readers, especially those interested in feminist biography. Those curious about the history and landscape of the Hudson Valley will also appreciate this detailed view of the little cottage on Fall-Kill Creek and its environs.--Marie M. Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., NJ

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.