The book was a disappointing read. Written in somewhat simplistic style, similar to a romance novel, I was expecting to learn more about W.E,B. DuBois' role in the history of civil rights for people of color. Instead he is portrayed as an egotistical philanderer taking deep advantage of Jessie both as a professional and a human. Also disappointing is Jessie's lack of self-worth continuing a long-time affair with a married man. She is portrayed as intelligent and ambitious, yet displays a weakness of character continuing an adulterous affair

Hands down, this is one of the best books I have reviewed in the many years! Not only is the story, plot line, and characters mesmerizing, but the historical education of the Harlem Renaissance was spellbounding. There is so much we don't know until reading such a well-documented novel as this. I am motivated to read more and cannot wait until Victoria Christopher Murray's next book! P.S. I am thrilled she collaborates with one of my favorite historical fiction authors - Marie Benedict.

Harlem Rhapsody is the fictionalized account of Jessie Redmond Fauset's importance in the discovery and publishing of so many Black writers in the early 1920's in Harlem, NY. I had never heard of this exceptional woman but I have read many of the writers, poets and playwrights that she encouraged early in their careers. In her role as literary editor for the Black magazine "The Crisis", owned and run by Dr. W.E.B. DuBois, Jessie became involved not only as an employee in the daily running of the business but also as a lover to him. Finding the courage to break free from her feelings for "Will" and having the strength to finally believe in herself and her own writing talents, leads Jessie to finally publish her own works which received outstanding praise.
A fascinating woman, highly educated, talented and well-traveled but limited by her sex and the color of her skin. The story is totally believable and pulls the reader into that time period in Harlem. Author's "Historical Note" at the conclusion of the book shed's more light on this remarkable woman seemingly forgotten today and without whom we would not have the successful Black writers of today.

I received a pre publication copy of Victoria Christopher"s latest novel Harlem Rhapsody. It tells the story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the literary editor of The NAACP's magazine, The Crisis, from 1919-1925. While Harlem Rhapsody is historical fiction, Miss Fauset's accomplishments are not. In an era where women, especially black women, had limited rights and limited access to education, she was a Cornell graduate, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and an accomplished writer and a poet. She nurtured major poets and writers including Countee Cullen, Nella Larson, Jean Toomer and Langston Hughes, who called her the midwife of the Harlem Renaissance. She also rubbed shoulders with Paul Robeson, Ethel Waters, Marcus Garvey, and Charles MacKay. It was enlightening to learn about her world.

This novel is also a love story of sorts. She was appointed the literary editor of The Crisis by W.E.B. Dubois, the civil rights icon, her mentor and her lover, He was a monumental historical figure and very impactful on Miss Fauset's trajectory. However, I would have preferred more history and less relationship. The love story detracts from this woman, seemingly lost to history, and overshadows her individual achievements.

It was interesting to learn that Ms. Murray had only recently learned about Miss Fauset. I am glad that she decided to discover the renaissance life of Jessie Redmon Fauset and share it with us. I recommend this novel to those interested in history, women's history, the Harlem Renaissance, United States history, and black history. For me, it was a welcome education.

This was an enjoyable read. Jessie Redmon Fauset is not somebody I had been familiar with before this and am glad to have learned about her. The Harlem Renaissance was an important time in our history bringing us several prolific writers, artists, musicians and performers. It is always heartening to read about strong women, especially women of color, and this story brought to life the emotions, struggles and family life of Ms. Fauset in a way that takes makes you feel as if you are there with her. It touches on the suffragette movement, the NAACP, black culture and much more. Overall, an enjoyable read with much historical research.

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.

I really enjoyed this book. I did not know this part of history, the publishing world, the struggle to be black along with being a woman. This is based on the life Jesse Redmon Fauset. She becomes the literary editor of the black magazine The Crisis. Jesse is determined to make the magazine the best there is by finding young black talent and soon every black writer in America wants to be published in her magazine. She is having an affair with her editor, the founder of the magazine. She doesn't want marriage or children. My only criticism was the author used so many words I had to look up as I was not familiar with them. It disrupted the flow of the story.