From Claudia To David

Claudia and David #6

by Rose Franken

Genres: Fiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Rose Dorothy Lewin Franken was born on December 28th 1895, in Gainesville, Texas and was one of the most popular and influential Jewish woman writers of her day. She was a celebrated Broadway playwright and director, a Hollywood screenwriter and a popular novelist whose fiction touched a sympathetic chord in American women. Franken's work reflects her personal struggle with traditional gender roles and her ambivalence about balancing domestic and career commitments.

Novelist and short story writer Rose Franken crossed over into the theater with the surprise hit of her play Another Language in 1932. Her sharp-eyed observations about the American family gave tang to her domestic dramas Claudia (1941) and The Hallams (1947). Social concerns such as antisemitism, homophobia, sexism, and war fueled her other plays such as Outrageous Fortune (1943), Doctors Disagree (1943), and Soldier’s Wife (1944).

Franken was married to William Brown Meloney who helped bring the Claudia stories to the radio. They had three sons.

Reviews

[Melanie Rightmyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sixth book in the Claudia series by Rose Franken. Without giving too much away, this is a gut wrenching book to read, and this is the first time I have been able to finish it in a number of years. Get the tissue box ready before starting this book.

My grandmother first piqued my interest in this series when I was young. She read several funny passages and then encouraged me to read the series when I was older, so I suppose these books hold a lot of nostalgia for me. I have read this series countless times and it is always an enjoyable read!

I do not really relate to Claudia, especially with regards to her relationship with her husband, but I enjoy reading about her life. The books begin in Manhattan during the 1940's, I find the descriptions of daily life to be fascinating. As the series progresses you see Claudia grow from a young, helpless girl, to a strong, capable woman, and while the style of the writing keeps the tone lighthearted and humorous, the subject matter can be quite heavy. This couple had more than their share of heartache, and the struggle and grief is present even in this lighthearted read. As with most books of this era, the racism and sexism is present, but it is still a series I enjoy reading.


The Claudia series

1) Claudia
2) Claudia and David
3) Another Claudia
4) Young Claudia
5) The Marriage of Claudia
6) From Claudia to David
7) Those Fragile Years
8) The Antic Years (US)
(Also published as The Return of Claudia-UK)

*Book of Claudia is "Claudia" & "Claudia and David"

[Barbara Mader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read some of the "Claudia" books in the past, but never thought to check to see whether there were additional titles in the series--until the other day. The library on-line request system yielded three books I hadn't read before, and I ate them up.

I do find the "Claudia" books intriguing. Dated at times, as to the role of women, but for all that, some intriguing ideas about marriage, lessons life offers (or inflicts), what inner strength is all about, how easy it is to assume things about people and how often one is totally wrong.

[Joellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

book 6

[Nancy Loe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixth in the series.