Book Summary and Reviews of Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

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Vivian H. (Winchester, VA)

A Beautiful Story
Until I read this book I was unfamiliar with Jessie Redmon Fauset. Her trajectory during the Harlem Renaissance touched the core of my soul. This amazing woman overcame prejudice based on sex and race to promote the fledgling careers a brilliant black writers of the early 20th century. She was fearless,brave, talented, independent, brilliant and at heart a flawed human being like most of us. But, oh…what an insightful editor to bring to the public the poets and authors she discovered. Thank you, BookBrowse, for the opportunity to review such a seminal work.

Oel W. (Reddick, FL)

Masterful and Enlightening
Sexism…as a woman coming of age in the 60s is a topic I am quite familiar with….however sexism coupled with racism is a whole different ball game, one that for me as a white woman I ocan somewhat empathize with, but not totally. Authors like Ms Murray can help provide that understanding and increase our knowledge of the vast differences in the struggle to become the best you can be in the face of not just one but two "isms".

The author took me to a time and place Ive never been and provided a very insightful look at a time and place that helps in understanding where we are now and how much further we need to go.

Masterful and well done. I will read more of her work.

Phyllis R. (Rochester Hills, MI)

Be ready to learn about Harlem Renaissance.
After reading Victoria Christopher Murray's co authoring several books with Marie Benedict, I was interested in how shoe would write her own story. I was not disappointed in her novel about Jessie Redmon Feuset and WEB DuBois and many others involved in the Harlem Renaissance. Murray did extensive research to make the time come alive and Jessie's work as literary editor for The Crises which is very readable. She also encouraged young writers by publishing young authors in The Crisis such as Langston Hughes; however she harbors a deep secret with her relationship with DuBois which she hides from her family and co-workers. Highly recommended if you are interested in this historical period.

Ann H. (Boulder, CO)

Harlem Rhapsody
Reading this book, reminded me of race relations in the 1920's and role women played. Women were capable, often overlooked, under-appreciated as shown in this story of Jesse and her work/dedication to W. E. B. DuBois. In Jesse's case she wanted love and a career while both were out of her reach it seemed. The author did a great job of bringing main characters to life. I would recommend this book to everyone and especially book clubs. The book would encourage some lively conversation. I enjoyed reading it. I learned about people that made a difference in promoting racial equality. Great read, in my opinion.

Deborah C. (Highland Park, NJ)

Bringing to Life a Forgotten Black Feminist
Thank you to Book Browse, Berkley and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

This inspiring, evocative novel joins several others by the same author about important but forgotten Black women in the first half of 20th century America.
Born in 1882, Jessie Redmon Fauset was a Black feminist who, in 1919, became the first literary editor of "The Crisis," the premier Negro periodical of its time. With impeccable academic credentials (BA from Cornell, Phi Beta Kappa; MA from University of Pennsylvania), Fauset was dedicated to changing the racist world. In her role at "The Crisis," she discovered and nurtured young Negro poets and writers, and eventually became a celebrated novelist herself.

Fauset also was devoted to WEB Du Bois, the founder and editor of "The Crisis," with whom she apparently had a long-time affair. This affair provides the framework for the book, as she comes to Harlem because WEB made her literary editor, and she constantly has to choose between work and love, and the knowledge that her great love is morally objectionable to her family, and must be hidden from her friends.

With vivid character portrayals, the author introduces a panoply of writers and thinkers from the Harlem Renaissance, populating the book with others whose stories invite further reading.

The book also raises a philosophical question: in the Author's Note Murray says that there is clear evidence of this affair between Fauset and Du Bois. However, it was hidden, if rumored, and I am not sure why the author chose to build the story of a remarkable woman, of any time or race, around something that she was so secretive and, presumably, uncomfortable about being known.

It does make for engrossing reading, but as with other novels based so heavily on a real person's life, it raises questions about the choices to fictionalize private, protected areas of that life – and will add to the many ways this novel makes for good book group discussions.

This was the term favored at that time by the Black community.

Ticey G. (Andover, KS)

Intriguing & Educational Historical Fiction
To me, the sign of a good historical fiction novel is when I can't wait to Google and learn more about the characters and this one fits the bill. I'll admit I'm not a huge fan of poetry so I had never heard of Jessie Redmon Fauset (or some of the poets she "births" throughout the story, but I'm so glad I now know her story and the impact she had on the Harlem Renaissance. What a truly spectacular and important woman of history.

Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this and it would make for a great book club discussion as well! There's so much to unpack.

...7 more reader reviews

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