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Elena
A fictional portrait of American writer Elena Franklin explores the impact of twentieth-century history on a small but influential literary group and evokes the human costs demanded in the life of a visionary artist
435 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
About the author
Thomas H. Cook
98 books358 followersThere is more than one author with this name on Goodreads.
Thomas H. Cook has been praised by critics for his attention to psychology and the lyrical nature of his prose. He is the author of more than 30 critically-acclaimed fiction books, including works of true crime. Cook published his first novel, Blood Innocents, in 1980. Cook published steadily through the 1980s, penning such works as the Frank Clemons trilogy, a series of mysteries starring a jaded cop.
He found breakout success with The Chatham School Affair (1996), which won an Edgar Award for best novel. Besides mysteries, Cook has written two true-crime books including the Edgar-nominated Blood Echoes (1993). He lives and works in New York City.
Awards
Edgar Allan Poe – Best Novel – The Chatham School Affair
Barry Award – Best Novel – Red Leaves
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – The Chatham School Affair
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – Red Leaves
Herodotus Prize – Fatherhood
Thomas H. Cook has been praised by critics for his attention to psychology and the lyrical nature of his prose. He is the author of more than 30 critically-acclaimed fiction books, including works of true crime. Cook published his first novel, Blood Innocents, in 1980. Cook published steadily through the 1980s, penning such works as the Frank Clemons trilogy, a series of mysteries starring a jaded cop.
He found breakout success with The Chatham School Affair (1996), which won an Edgar Award for best novel. Besides mysteries, Cook has written two true-crime books including the Edgar-nominated Blood Echoes (1993). He lives and works in New York City.
Awards
Edgar Allan Poe – Best Novel – The Chatham School Affair
Barry Award – Best Novel – Red Leaves
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – The Chatham School Affair
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – Red Leaves
Herodotus Prize – Fatherhood
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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July 5, 2014Elena, by Thomas H. Cook, Narrated by Arthur Morey, Produced by Audible Inc., Downloaded from audible.com.
This is a novel portraying the life story of Elena Franklin. As a young woman, Elena was one of the most promising literary talents of the 1920s, and over the years her legend grew. Her biographer, Martha Farrell, has combed through all the evidence of Elena's genius and passion, from her early years in New York to her expatriate life
in Paris. The result is a monumental work - but among the party's crowd is the man who knows the book doesn’t adequately explain his sister. Only William, Elena's brother,
knew the truth about the famed author. Martha's flawed biography spurs his memory, and he recalls how the temperamental baby grew into a legend. He knew
Elena's hidden pain, shared their family secrets, and draws his own portrait of the troubled soul that lay behind her artistic gifts. Very good. Introspective. Very different from other books by this author.
This is a novel portraying the life story of Elena Franklin. As a young woman, Elena was one of the most promising literary talents of the 1920s, and over the years her legend grew. Her biographer, Martha Farrell, has combed through all the evidence of Elena's genius and passion, from her early years in New York to her expatriate life
in Paris. The result is a monumental work - but among the party's crowd is the man who knows the book doesn’t adequately explain his sister. Only William, Elena's brother,
knew the truth about the famed author. Martha's flawed biography spurs his memory, and he recalls how the temperamental baby grew into a legend. He knew
Elena's hidden pain, shared their family secrets, and draws his own portrait of the troubled soul that lay behind her artistic gifts. Very good. Introspective. Very different from other books by this author.
June 11, 2013
Beautifully written story. Cook continues to be one of my favorites. This book makes one think about how to carefully handle valued relationships.
August 16, 2025
A remarkable departure in the author's psychological mystery style, even more so after writing only three books to that point (1986) in his life. An absorbing study of a microcosm of the literary world through the eyes of a fictional author's "sidekick" brother, William, over five decades beginning with the 1930s.
Told by William, the story is his biography of his sister Elena, while a designated biographer, also in the story, gathers material that he knows will be incomplete. It is a deep study of Elena's struggles and passions that writers will identify with.
The prose carries this story, reminiscent of F. Scott Fitzgerald in language and the Gatsby novel in particular. Rich and moving, Cook shows his mastery of storytelling.
Readers are treated to excerpts from Elena's books and other materials. Some worth quoting and most worth pondering.
On the downside, it is not an uplifting story of a life. It is a complex study of the woman with a heavy introspection that may put readers off. Yet Cook makes anything he writes worth reading.
This is the eighteenth Cook book I've read this year, in no special order, a return to what I remember from my first reads of several of his novels years ago. It is a binge read that I don't regret—three more novels to go.
What is Elena's worldview? Her brother describes it later in her life:
"She stood for those moments of supreme consciousness and understanding when our mercy suddenly overcomes our rancor, and all our sorrow and our jubilation merge into a single sweeping tenderness toward mankind."
Told by William, the story is his biography of his sister Elena, while a designated biographer, also in the story, gathers material that he knows will be incomplete. It is a deep study of Elena's struggles and passions that writers will identify with.
The prose carries this story, reminiscent of F. Scott Fitzgerald in language and the Gatsby novel in particular. Rich and moving, Cook shows his mastery of storytelling.
Readers are treated to excerpts from Elena's books and other materials. Some worth quoting and most worth pondering.
On the downside, it is not an uplifting story of a life. It is a complex study of the woman with a heavy introspection that may put readers off. Yet Cook makes anything he writes worth reading.
This is the eighteenth Cook book I've read this year, in no special order, a return to what I remember from my first reads of several of his novels years ago. It is a binge read that I don't regret—three more novels to go.
What is Elena's worldview? Her brother describes it later in her life:
"She stood for those moments of supreme consciousness and understanding when our mercy suddenly overcomes our rancor, and all our sorrow and our jubilation merge into a single sweeping tenderness toward mankind."
November 29, 2023
Excellent
October 3, 2015
Found it difficult to read, not enjoyable
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews