Undiscovered Country

Letters between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena “Hick” Hickok inspire McNees’s rich exploration of their secret relationship. Narrated by Hick, the novel follows the trajectory of the relationship from its start in 1932, when Hick is assigned to cover Mrs. Roosevelt while her husband runs for president. There’s heat from the get-go between the two women. As their relationship develops, it’s implied that Hick galvanizes Mrs. Roosevelt to be more than just a social hostess in the White House—the Arthurdale homestead project, which Eleanor champions, is showcased here. After Hick is fired for choosing loyalty to Eleanor over headlines that would have compromised her access, the first lady creates a government job for Hick reporting on the horrific conditions caused by the Depression. Though McNees (The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott) leaves the end of their relationship out of the narrative, which may frustrate some readers seeking a more thorough depiction, her novel nevertheless provides a moving and intimate glimpse of Hick and Roosevelt. (Apr.)