BOOK REVIEW
Emily Herring Wilson Pens
Book on Eleanor Roosevelt
By Judie Holcomb-Pack
Emily Herring Wilson has written books about women, including
“No One Gardens Alone: A Life of Elizabeth Lawrence,”
and co-authored “North Carolina Women: Making History.”
Her latest release, “The Three Graces of Val-Kill,” a book about
Eleanor Roosevelt, Marion Dickerman and Nancy Cook and
the home they built on the edge of Hyde Park, is sure to become
a favorite among book lovers in the Triad and beyond.
When Wilson, 78, spoke at Bookmarks on Oct. 11, which just happened to be the birthday of Eleanor Roosevelt, she
mesmerized the crowd with stories, beginning with thanking the “Graces” in her life who supported her during her
breast cancer treatment and as she wrote this book. “Grace” was the nickname President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave
to Eleanor’s close friends.
The audience was standing room only. Wilson’s reputation
as a lecturer, writer and community activist is well
known, and she didn’t disappoint. According to the
book jacket, “Emily Wilson examines what she calls the
most formative period in Roosevelt’s life, from 1922 to
1936, when she cultivated an intimate friendship with
Marion Dickerman and Nancy Cook, who helped her
build a cottage on the Val-Kill Creek in Hyde Park on
the Roosevelt Family Land.” Eleanor Roosevelt was one
of the most influential First Ladies in American history.
The jacket also notes, “Val-Kill was not only home to
Eleanor Roosevelt but also a crucial part of how she
became one of the most admired American political
figures of the twentieth century.”
After Wilson spoke, she signed copies of her book while
attendees enjoyed wine and birthday cake in honor of
Eleanor Roosevelt. I came ready to purchase one book,
but after hearing her speak, I had to purchase a second
one for one of the “Graces” in my life. This book is
a short read at 178 pages, but it is sure to keep you
engaged from beginning to end.
Published by the University of North Carolina Press,
“The Three Graces of Val-Kill” is available at Bookmarks,
634 W 4th St., Suite 110, Winston-Salem. Call
336-747-1471 or visit www.bookmarksnc.org.
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