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New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating and dramatic new novel about an American heroine Frances Perkins.
Raised on tales of her revolutionary ancestors, Frances Perkins arrives in New York City at the turn of the century, armed with her trusty parasol and an unyielding determination to make a difference.
When she's not working with children in the crowded tenements in Hell's Kitchen, Frances throws herself into the social scene in Greenwich Village, befriending an eclectic group of politicians, artists, and activists, including the millionaire socialite Mary Harriman Rumsey, the flirtatious budding author Sinclair Lewis, and the brilliant but troubled reformer Paul Wilson, with whom she falls deeply in love.
But when Frances meets a young lawyer named Franklin Delano Roosevelt at a tea dance, sparks fly in all the wrong directions. She thinks he's a rich, arrogant dilettante who gets by on a handsome face and a famous name. He thinks she's a priggish bluestocking and insufferable do-gooder. Neither knows it yet, but over the next twenty years, they will form a historic partnership that will carry them both to the White House.
Frances is destined to rise in a political world dominated by men, facing down the Great Depression as FDR's most trusted lieutenant—even as she struggles to balance the demands of a public career with marriage and motherhood. And when vicious political attacks mount and personal tragedies threaten to derail her ambitions, she must decide what she's willing to do—and what she's willing to sacrifice—to save a nation.
Chapter One
New York City
Summer 1909
My family built this country with muddy hands and a spark of madness. On my grandfather's side, we were brickmakers, shoveling clay out of pits along the Damariscotta River in Maine. On my grandmother's side, we were rebels, writing pamphlets against taxation without representation and taking up muskets against the redcoats.
Alas, just like some bricks break in the kiln, so, too, did some of my kin crack in the fire of the American Revolution. Madness runs in families, they say. Courage too. And I wasn't entirely sure which of those inheritable traits was most responsible for my decision as a young woman to move to New York City, where I'd be living in Hell's Kitchen, one of the most notoriously violent tenement slums.
The neighborhood-insofar as one could call it that-was so much under the thumb of gang leaders that policemen couldn't enter without fear of being pelted with stones by lookouts who then escaped down the drainpipes into a maze of rat-infested back alleys.
Yet here I was-with my lace parasol in one hand, traveling valise in the other-jostling past shabby storefronts with soot-stained awnings, noisy saloons selling three-cent whiskey, and a rogue's gallery of ruffians brandishing penknives, looking to separate me from my valuables.
Fortunately, I hadn't any valuables on my person unless one were to count my fashionably ornamented hat and the few pennies I hid in my lace-up boot.
No doubt, I made a curious sight in the tenements, where strangers stood out. I also had an unfortunate moon face with dimples that gave the impression of doe-eyed youth even though I was twenty-nine years of age. And because my previous employment at the Philadelphia Research and Protective Association hadn't afforded a salary generous enough to pay for more than the occasional banana sandwich, I was thin enough to sometimes be confused with a teenaged girl.
But I wasn't a lost little naïf. I had learned from hard-won experience that in places such as this-where the foul odors from the docks mixed with the smell of horse dung and unwashed humanity in the streets-it was best to stride with a purposeful gait, keeping fixed upon my face an expression that said, Ill-intended gentlemen will very much regret trifling with me.
I'm convinced that stride and expression are all that account for how I arrived unmolested at the tall wrought iron stairway entrance of the brick settlement house on West Forty-Sixth Street.
Amid surrounding squalor, the settlement house was surprisingly well kept, its front stoop graced with pots of scarlet chrysanthemums. This place was meant to be a sanctuary for the poor where they could bathe, seek nursing care, or attend classes. And no sooner had I approached that sanctuary than did the curious, cold, and calculating looks I got on the street melt into something a little more civilized.
When I rang the bell, the supervisor was waiting for me. She introduced herself as Miss Mathews and ushered me inside while scrutinizing my fashionably narrow skirt with a whiff of disdain.
The dour-faced Miss Mathews was herself dressed all in black like social agitators of the older generation, adhering to the S-shaped corset. And I noticed her manner was just as constrained when she sniffed and said, very stiffly, "Welcome to Hartley House, Miss Perkins."
"Thank you," I chirped cheerfully, taking in the lovely foyer, then following her into a little office, where I sat at the edge of my seat, gloves folded in my lap, the heels of my lace-up boots lined up primly as she reviewed my file. "I'm very much looking forward to my time here at Hartley House."
"You come to us highly recommended," she said, as if she couldn't possibly imagine why. "And I see you have a fine education. Mount Holyoke College. Wharton Business School. And now New York's School of Philanthropy. Our understanding is that you're here on a fellowship from the Russell Sage Foundation."
"Yes," I said. "I've been given the opportunity to ...
Excerpted from Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray. Copyright © 2024 by Stephanie Dray. Excerpted by permission of Berkley Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Berkley Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
Our First Impressions reviewers enjoyed reading about Frances Perkins, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor, in Stephanie Dray's novel Becoming Madam Secretary; out of 33 reviewers, 32 gave the book four or five stars.
What it's about:
The prologue begins with a scene in FDR's office in 1933 where he is asking Frances Perkins to be his Secretary of Labor. For reasons we learn later, she has already decided she will not accept the appointment. She lays out what she would do if she had the position, assuming that her agenda is so radical that he won't agree to it. To her amazement, he does. How could she say no? Chapter One takes us back in time to the summer of 1909, when Frances is getting a master's degree in economics. Upon graduation, she begins a career of fighting for workers' rights. She observes the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which makes her an unstoppable force for safety in the workplace. Her successes attract the attention of New York Governor Al Smith and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as FDR.
The author delves into Perkins' personal life, a happy marriage that gradually disintegrates due to her husband's mental illness, which seems to be genetically transmitted to their daughter as well. It was for this reason that she was reluctant to take the position offered by FDR. But she did, and brought about legislation that even today affects every citizen of the US. Without Frances Perkins, there is some doubt that we would have ever had Social Security, minimum wage, unemployment insurance, child labor laws, and so many other safety net programs (Jim T).
Readers loved learning more about Frances Perkins' work and were impressed with all she was able to accomplish at a very misogynist time in history.
But the real story here is how she had to endure hatred, lies, death threats, scorn in the press, and sabotage by other members of the Cabinet; yet she maintained her dignity, pressing forward to get the programs she knew were needed by the American people. This is a book about history, but more importantly an inspiring story about courage and persistence in the face of seemingly impassable barriers (Jim T). Her struggles to overcome the horrors of unfair, cruel, and unsafe work environments, poverty and her own personal struggles at home are a testament to her strength and character so very well portrayed in the book (Miss Liz).
In addition to her professional accomplishments, readers found Dray's depictions of Perkins' personal life compelling.
Her support of her husband and daughter during their struggles with mental illness and her deep friendships attest to her strength of character. The author, Stephanie Dray, did an excellent job bringing Frances Perkins to light in this book (Ellen H). Dray also portrays Perkins' struggles, so pertinent to many working women, to juggle her commitment to being a loving, available mother to her daughter throughout their lives with her commitment to her equally demanding and fulfilling work life (Dianne S).
Becoming Madam Secretary has what many see as the markers of a successful work of historical fiction.
The job of writing historical fiction about a larger-than-life character like Ms. Perkins and all the important people she had to push, cajole, and convince, requires not only extensive research but also the creativity to try to discern and write what plausibly could have been her thoughts and her conversations. Stephanie Dray does a masterful job of all of the above. As she says in her Author's Note, "Novelists can go where historians rightly fear to tread." (Jim T). What a great book! I'm embarrassed to say I knew nothing of Frances Perkins nor her incredible achievements. A fiction book that sends the reader searching for more information must be a great book and this is one of them. I continue to be astonished that a book about the woman deeply involved in FDR's New Deal and the architect of Social Security could be such a page-turner! (Jeanne W).
While some found the writing style to be less than desirable…
The book is often repetitive and provides overly exhaustive detail, especially regarding her relationships with Paul and Ramsey. I often found I skipped whole pages to avoid some details (Dianne S). At times her characters felt rather flat, and the tone seemed superficial. The novel was a bit long, but there was so much territory to cover. This was an easy read, interesting and informative (Ruthie A).
...others found it exceptional.
Her writing pace matches the intense drama and passion of Perkins and like-minded women who sought out justice and fair labor practices. Because of her ability to tell a good story while revealing significant facts about women in history, the reader comes away from each chapter breathless for the next one (Ricki A).
And many felt it would be a good choice for a book group discussion.
The influence of Frances Perkins continues to this day. Book groups will find much to discuss about Ms. Perkins' personal life, professional life, and the balance between them (Shawna L). Dray, true to her previous books, has woven an interesting dialogue covering some very important parts of the history of our nation. A book worth reading for your personal illumination as well as a book destined for book clubs and the many different directions the conversations can flow (Carole A). I have suggested to the members of my book club we read Becoming Madam Secretary and look forward to a great discussion with other thoughtful women on a subject that has benefited us in our own life endeavors (Ricki A).
Reviewed by First Impressions Reviewers
Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye
Lisa Scottoline,New York Times bestselling author of Loyalty
Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling co-author of The First Ladies
Michelle Moran, bestselling author of Rebel Queen
Rated 5 out of 5
by Lloyd Russell
A Truly Terrific Book
Becoming Madam Secretary, by Stephanie Dray, is an amazing story. It's all about the first female cabinet member. Frances Perkins was picked by FDR to be his Secretary of Labor when he officially became president in early 1933. We learn that right at the beginning of the book. Then Stephanie goes back to 1909 and gives us Frances' background. We learn about her husband and his difficulties, her pregnancies, her path that led to her appointment. And, later, we learn about everything she did as Labor Secretary. We see how being a woman affected her job and her ability to get things done. We learn a lot about FDR and Eleanor. it could NOT have been more interesting.
This is not a short book. it comes in at 500 pages. But, boy, did I get through it quickly. I picked it up every available minute. And, like any good historical fiction, we find out in the author notes which characters were fictional and which were real. I have to say that these author notes were particularly interesting.
So far I've only read one other book by Stephanie Dray. It's called The Women of Chateau Lafayette. And it was also a 5/5! I need to get off my keister and read more...and I will! In the meantime, please read Becoming Madam Secretary.
Rated 5 out of 5
by Carolea
So well researched and written!
If you are currently receiving any kind of government benefit, such as Social Security or Medicare, then the novel "Becoming Madam Secretary" by Stephanie Dray is an absolute must-read. This captivating work of historical fiction provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of Frances Perkins, who made history as the first female cabinet member under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration. Dray's meticulously researched and vividly written narrative takes readers on a journey through Perkins' remarkable career, chronicling her rise from a passionate social reformer to a trailblazing figure who helped shape some of the most significant New Deal programs that laid the foundations for the modern American social safety net.
Despite the book's impressive length, it is structured in a highly accessible way, with short, fast-paced chapters that flow seamlessly in chronological order, making it an effortless and immensely satisfying read for lovers of historical fiction. As you delve into Perkins' story, you'll be struck by the depth of her intellect, the strength of her convictions, and the profound impact she had on shaping the social welfare policies that continue to benefit millions of Americans to this day. Ultimately, "Becoming Madam Secretary" is a powerful and enlightening novel that reminds us of the critical role that visionary leaders can play in driving positive social change, and the importance of learning from the lessons of history. Whether you're already familiar with Perkins' legacy or discovering it for the first time, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression and inspire a deeper appreciation for the trailblazers who paved the way before us.
Rated 5 out of 5
by Sina_De_Capri
Becoming Madam Secretary review
Stephanie Dray weaves a captivating and dramatic narrative in Becoming Madam Secretary. The novel introduces us to Frances Perkins, an American heroine whose impact reverberates through history. Raised on tales of her revolutionary ancestors, Frances arrives in New York City at the turn of the century, armed with her trusty parasol and an unyielding determination to make a difference.
As she immerses herself in the crowded tenements of Hell’s Kitchen, Frances also throws herself into the social scene in Greenwich Village. There, she befriends an eclectic group of politicians, artists, and activists, including the millionaire socialite Mary Harriman Rumsey, the flirtatious budding author Sinclair Lewis, and the brilliant but troubled reformer Paul Wilson, with whom she falls deeply in love.
But it’s when Frances meets a young lawyer named Franklin Delano Roosevelt at a tea dance that sparks fly—though not in the right direction. She sees him as a rich, arrogant dilettante relying on his famous name, while he views her as a priggish bluestocking and insufferable do-gooder. Little do they know that over the next two decades, they will form a historic partnership that will carry them both to the White House.
Frances’s destiny unfolds in a political world dominated by men. As FDR’s most trusted lieutenant during the Great Depression, she faces immense challenges. Balancing her public career with marriage and motherhood, she becomes a force behind Social Security and helps launch the Civilian Conservation Corps. Her unwavering commitment to improving lives shapes the course of American history.
Dray’s meticulous research shines through, providing behind-the-scenes historical details that immerse readers in Frances’s world. However, the novel occasionally portrays Frances as almost too good to be true—too smart, too brave, too loyal. Yet, real or fictionalized, Frances Perkins was indeed a hard-working, visionary heroine. From defying conventions in New England to advising both Smith and Roosevelt during their governorships, she blazed trails.
The New Deal and Frances’s appointment as the first woman to head a federal Cabinet department were groundbreaking. The former challenged traditional views of the American government’s role, while the latter faced opposition due to gender norms. Perkins’s legacy endures through her contributions to Social Security and her unwavering dedication to public service.
Rated 5 out of 5
by Yosi
Wonderful book
While historical fiction isn’t the first genre I typically go for I do enjoy it a lot, and I especially love stories like that this that take a piece of history that is not typically focused on. I will admit I didn’t know Frances Perkins or all that she did to change America. While I knew we didn’t always have fair labor laws or social security I didn’t understand the work she went through to make them happen. I also will admit I didn’t know as much as I should have about Franklin Roosevelt. I thought the book was well written and the voice it gave Frances was very believable. I will say it’s a hard book to read because there are a lot of sad turns, but life is sad and to shy away from that is a bigger shame. I did think the story moved slowly at times and it was a long, but overall I greatly enjoyed it. 5 stars rounded up for helping educate me while I was also being entertained
Rated 5 out of 5
by Karen
Becoming Madame Secretary
An intriguing book about a forgotten woman who was instrumental in shaping American history as well as the lives of everyone today. Part 1 of the book was fascinating in detailing her early life and crusades for shorter working hours, work safety as well as child labor laws plus the bonus of women suffrage movement. Francis Perkins was a complex woman living during a rapidly changing time period. The author touches on the challenges of her marriage, mental health and being the first woman cabinet member. The evolving dynamics between Francis and FDR keeps the reader interested. However Francis Perkins is the star- a wonderful woman who should not be forgotten in America history. Very enjoyable read.
Rated 5 out of 5
by Jim T. (North Ridgeville, OH)
Inspiring Story of Frances Perkins
If you love history, you will love this book. If you love stories about strong women who made a difference in this world despite having to overcome barriers that no man would encounter, especially in times past, then you will love this book. Frances Perkins was the first female member of a President's cabinet, serving as Secretary of Labor under Franklin Delano Roosevelt from 1933 to 1945. When I began to read the book, I knew all that. I quickly realized that I knew nothing about Perkins' life and the incredible extent of her accomplishments in that office.
The job of writing historical fiction about a larger-than-life character like Ms. Perkins and all the important people she had to push, cajole, and convince, requires not only extensive research but also the creativity to try to discern and write what plausibly could have been her thoughts and her conversations. Stephanie Dray did a masterful job of all the above. As she says in her Author's Notes, "Novelists can go where historians rightly fear to tread."
The prologue begins with a scene in FDR's office in 1933 where he is asking her to be his Secretary of Labor. For reasons we learn later, she has already decided she would not accept the appointment. She lays out what she would do if she had the position, assuming that her agenda was so radical that he wouldn't agree to it. To her amazement, FDR agreed to every jot and tittle of her agenda. How could she say no?
Chapter One takes us back in time to the summer of 1909 when Frances was getting a master's degree in economics. Upon graduation, she begins a career of fighting for worker's rights and improved working conditions. She observed the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which changed her life's mission into being an unstoppable force for safety in the workplace. This led to successes and the attention of Governor Al Smith and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as FDR.
The author delves into Perkins' personal life, a happy marriage that gradually disintegrated due to her husband's growing mental illness, which seemed to be genetically transmitted to their daughter as well. It was for this reason that she was reluctant to take the position offered by FDR. But she did, and brought about legislation which even today affects every citizen of the USA. Without Frances Perkins, there is some doubt that we would have ever had Social Security, minimum wage, unemployment insurance, child labor laws, and so many other safety net programs.
But the real story here is how she had to endure hatred, lies, death threats, scorn in the press, and sabotage by other members of the Cabinet; yet she maintained her dignity, pressing forward to get the programs she knew were needed by the American people. This is a book about history, but more importantly an inspiring story about courage and persistence in the face of seemingly impassable barriers. The author allows us to experience what might have been the anguish in Perkins' inner thoughts and feelings, which she never displayed to the outside world.
Rated 5 out of 5
by Erica M. (Chicago, IL)
An Intelligent woman of the 1920s and 30s
At first, I thought that the author was a good storyteller but not a great writer. As the book went on, I became so engrossed in the story, that I began to truly appreciate her writing style. Women in the 1920s and 30s were expected to fulfill their roles as wives and mothers. Frances Perkins was fortunate to have married a man who respected her intelligence, her abilities, and her need to work. Having taken the lead on important social issues, she gained the respect of politicians and was perfectly positioned for FDR to appoint her his Secretary of Labor. She learned to balance her intelligence and her causes against what men would accept from her as a lone women amongst all men, so that she was both listened to and heard. It was a remarkable feat. The writing compels the reader forward in a very satisfying way.
Rated 5 out of 5
by Shawna L. (Pearland, TX)
Outstanding Historical Fiction
I knew very little about Frances Perkins but am familiar with the history of the FDR era. I found myself wondering how much was historical and how much was fiction. Dray's note at the end detailed what was historical. As usual, Dray has done her research and the novel stays close to fact in much of the novel. The influence of Frances Perkins continues to this day. Book groups will find much to discuss about Miss Perkins' personal life, professional life, and the balance between them.
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray narrates the life of Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the first woman to serve in the US Cabinet. Perkins was a tireless supporter of workers' rights and is credited with drafting and lobbying support for some of the most critical parts of the New Deal.
Frances Perkins was born in Boston in 1880 and grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts. She attended college at Mount Holyoke where she studied economic history and was inspired by Jacob Riis's account of life in New York City's slums, How the Other Half Lives. She toured factories and interviewed workers to get a sense of the conditions and the issues that mattered to them. From Mount Holyoke, Perkins moved on to Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at University of Pennsylvania, and then Columbia University, where she earned a master's degree in economics and sociology.
After acquiring her degree in 1910, Perkins worked with social reformer Florence Kelley as the Secretary of the New York Consumers' League, advocating for the abolition of child labor and a shorter work week. She also became involved in the movement for women's suffrage at this time, taking part in marches and giving speeches on street corners to drum up support. In 1911, Perkins witnessed the chaos of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, a horrifying event that radicalized her on the need for worker protections and rights.
Perkins married Paul Wilson, an economist with the New York Bureau of Municipal Research, in 1913, and the couple had a daughter shortly thereafter. Perkins began working for the New York State Industrial Commission in 1918 at the behest of Governor Al Smith, and when Franklin Delano Roosevelt succeeded Smith as governor, he made Perkins Industrial Commissioner of New York. After the stock market crash in 1929, Roosevelt appointed Perkins to head up a committee on unemployment.
When Roosevelt was elected president in 1932, he asked Perkins to be his Secretary of Labor; a scene Dray writes into the prologue of her novel to capture the reader's attention. Perkins served from 1933-1945, which remains the longest term served by a Secretary of Labor. Her achievements include the Wagner Act, which protects workers' rights to form unions and engage in union activities such as collective bargaining and striking, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, which created a minimum wage, established guaranteed time-and-a-half for overtime, and eliminated "oppressive child labor." Perhaps most significantly, Perkins chaired the Committee on Economic Security in 1934, which drafted the set of policies that would become the Social Security Act (SSA). The SSA established a pension fund for retirees as well as funds to assist low-income elders.
Perkins went on to travel as a delegate to the International Labor Organization Conference in Paris in 1945, and to work in the Civil Service Commission under President Truman. She died in 1965 at age 85.
Frances Perkins on the cover of Time, 1933, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Filed under People, Eras & Events
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