Just as stories find writers, they find readers as well.
Last year I was reading a book about the friendship and fall out between Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston and I saw a picture of them with Jessie Redmon Fauset. After reading the book, I googled her because she seemed interesting. Then I saw that there was a book being written about her and it was my favorite genre, historical fiction! I immediately checked Netgalley to request and was so happy when it got approved. I have been obsessed with the Harlem Renaissance since grade school. I've read many great books, especially historical fiction on it, but there was a book my heart was looking for... and this is it!
From the moment Jessie steps out of the taxi cab, her t-strap heels hitting the concrete, Harlem in the 1920s comes to life! Jessie was a woman way before her time.
She lived her life in her own terms in a society that tried to stifle her. Her character is every woman.. complex, multifaceted, flawed. The writing is dramatic and entertaining taking you into every aspect of Jessie's life from personal, work and social. The story is also a who's who of the times. Murray was dropping names and I was picking them up! I have to say I loved Nella Larsen's character. She was determined to find out the
tea! 3
Jessie story is remarkable, inspiration, and needs to be shared with the world and take its rightful place among the literary greats she gave us. Thank you @victoriachristophermurray for bringing her into our lives in a time she is so needed.
We're starting off
Black History Month right with this one!
Thank you @netgalley@berkleypub for a digital copy and a chance to read and review

Jessie Redmond Fauset is the literary editor of "The Crisis", a Negro magazine in Harlem under W.E.B. Du Bois, who is the editor and her married lover. There she shepherds young writers: Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Nella Larsen. Can Jessie achieve her dream of becoming the editor of the magazine?

I learned a great deal about the Harlem Renaissance and the fascinating Jessie Redmond Fauset.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the advanced digital copy of the book. I highly recommend it!

I enjoyed reading this book. This book is mainly about Jessie Redmond Fauset and her relationship with W.E.B. De Bois the founder and editor of The Crisis a magazine for Negros. Jessie moves to Harlem and accepts a job as literary editor at the magazine all while continuing her affair with Will even though he is married and has a family. I love how the author writes compelling novels about Negro women in history that I don’t know anything about. I also liked learning about the time period. I thought the book ended in a satisfying spot.

Thank you to Victoria Christopher Murray, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 4, 2025

“Another time, a different place”

Historical fiction DRAMA. Jessie Redmon Fauset was an unsung hero of the Harlem Renaissance and helped sculpt the Black literary movement but her work was often lost in the folds of history. She held a prominent role at The Crisis and helped kickstart the careers of many literature greats, like Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, Nella Larsen, Zora Neale Hurtson and many more. Readers get a front row seat of a big slice of history with this one. HARLEM RHAPSODY was a vibrant tribute to Fauset’s work and gave much-deserved flowers where they were due!

I have a lot of feelings about Fauset’s alleged affair with W.E.B. DuBois, whom I also have VERY STRONG FEELINGS about, but I’ll digress because he recognized Fauset’s greatness (but I’d be lying if I said he didn’t live under my skin for most of the book). DuBois had flaws like the rest of us and I appreciate how the author didn’t shy away from those flaws or the dynamics of the alleged relationship, a love triangle that often blurred the lines between personal and professional. He controlled the perimeters of Jessie’s heart and her career, so I cheered REAL loud when she finally broke through the hold that man had on her (which only she can understand because I’m still processing how he caused so much chaos tbh). And can we talk about how Jessie orchestrated a whole anniversary party for DuBois and his wife?! I could never.

I love historical fiction so I was captivated and sat from the very beginning. I enjoyed how this transported me to such an exciting time in Harlem history. It focused on literature and publishing, but readers got to see an overlap from other key players of the Renaissance, like Louis Armstrong and Mamie Smith. This was very well-researched and brought many key points to the forefront. The parts where Fauset talks about Black women being disqualified from positions despite having a PhD or how Fauset herself couldn’t secure a position in publishing after leaving The Crisis were raw reminders of the progress still needing done then AND now, since not much has changed a century later.

Thanks to Berkley Pub for the digital ARC! HARLEM RHAPSODY is out Feb. 4.

Harlem Rhapsody by author Victoria Christopher Murray was eye-opening to the Negro Renaissance and the need for black voices to be heard telling their own stories through poetry, short stories, novels, and more.

The story begins in the autumn of 1919 and continues to the summer of 1925. Told from Jessie Redmon Fauset‘s point of view, a Negro woman well known for her accomplishments and with a lot of firsts to her name. But there were many supporting characters important in their own right, who rounded out the story, many of whose names I have heard.

W.E.B. Du Bois, also called Will, had a vision to provide a platform so black voices could be heard in the arts. He created The Crisis, a periodical for Negroes and a magazine for Negro writers. Will wanted them to be able to tell their stories and not have the white man telling them for them. Jessie, with whom he had a relationship, became his literary editor, and she lived and breathed his dreams since they were her own as well.

But while Jessie did the heavy work, every day going through the manuscripts and poetry she received, editing them, meeting with those who gave in submissions, and publishing The Crisis each month, she never got the recognition from Will that she deserved. It was always his baby, and he never let her forget it, even when others realized her role.

Will had a hard time giving up control even when he traveled to ensure the voices of his people would be heard. Jessie learned a lot by working with the NAACP directors and meeting so many potential authors, and poets, as well as established ones. Through it all, their relationship, where she was his surrogate wife, continued, and unfortunately for me, that took away from some of the story.

So many trials and tribulations the characters went through to be both seen and heard are unfortunately still true today. Jessie knew the importance of networking, and Will wasn’t always in agreement. They often clashed, and she’d cool their relationship only for her to return to him. His wife and daughter were in the background, and his wife seemed to know more about what was going on than she let on.

The story flowed well, and I loved how Jessie mentored so many. Her novel got many rave reviews. Even when she was honored, she seemed to be overlooked. The story ended differently than expected, and an epilogue would have given better closure.

Before reading the book, I read the two sections, Author Note and Historical Note, since Harlem Rhapsody is both historical and biographical fiction, which I had not been aware of. I thought it would give me some insight into what I would be reading, which definitely helped. Having grown up in New York before moving to Connecticut, I have also been to Harlem and eaten at a few of its restaurants, making Harlem and some locations easy to visualize.

Harlem Rhapsody drew me in from the beginning and shined a light on the Negro Renaissance. Knowing the book was based on historical facts was enlightening, and the author’s writing drew me in. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars here and on other sites.

The review is posted on NovelsAlive.

Thank you @BerkleyPub for my free book and thank you @prhaudio for the #gifted listening copy of Harlem Rhapsody! #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyIG #berkley #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #berkleypub #HarlemRhapsody #VictoriaChristopherMurray

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐑𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐲
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐲
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟓★

Before reading this book, I was very famliar with W.E.B. Du Bois, but I knew nothing about Jessie Redmon Fauset. Jessie was referred to as the midwife of the literary movement during the Harlem Renaissance as the literary editor of The Crisis, she found young talent such as Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen. The way in which she was able to inspire others was remarkable. When she found young talent, she worked hard to cultivate it and made sure those around her knew how talented they were. She accomplished so much in the literary world alongside of W.E.B. Du Bois, and also much on her own. A large portion of the book focuses on her relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois, and the affair they had, which lasted for quite some time. While I can see how this might be a turn-off for some people since there was a lot of infidelity, I think the overall message at the end of the book, plus the Author’s Note at the end really wrapped everything up so well. This book truly was remarkable!

🎧I started reading this one with my eyes, and then switched to the audiobook, which was narrated by the talented Robin Miles. Miles was spectacular. I think this was my first time listening to Miles narrate, and she was just phenomenal! I could not have loved this one on audio more! I highly recommend this on audio if you’re looking for a new audiobook!

Posted on Goodreads on February 3, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around February 4, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on February 4, 2025
**-will post on designated date

This novel is PHENOMENAL! I think it’s a must read for every Harlem Renaissance lover, learning Jessie Redmon Fausset’s story is A MUST! I love the juxtaposition of the historical fiction with the “messiness” of the torrid love affair between Jessie & Mr Du Bois. I am definitely recommending this book to everyone that I know.

Harlem Rhapsody offers an engaging portrayal of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the first Black woman literary editor at The Crisis, as she navigates her ambitious career and tumultuous affair with W. E. B. Du Bois. Through her mentorship of young writers like Countee Cullen and Langston Hughes, the novel highlights Fauset's pivotal role in shaping African American literature during the Harlem Renaissance. Ultimately, it is a poignant exploration of ambition, legacy, and the personal costs associated with achieving greatness in a challenging era.

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

People living through history often don’t realize their importance. But Jessie Redmon Fauset certainly did. If you don’t know that name, read this book!

This historical fiction novel tells the story of Jessie Redmon Fauset. She was one of the first black women to get a Phi Beta Kappa Key. After teaching in Philadelphia, Jessie is offered the position of Literary Editor at one of the premiere black magazines of the time,The Crisis, in NYC. Although her position was well earned and well deserved, she was sleeping with her married boss, WEB Du Bois.

The novel describes how Jessie became editor behind such important names as Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen (along with many others). In addition to running The Crisis, she also created a version just for children called The Brownies’ Book. She often also contributed to the magazine herself writing reviews and poems. In the end she also became a successful novelist.

So why don’t we know about her? Because she was black. Because she was a woman. Because she was behind the scenes, not in front. Because people thought she got her position with her feminine wiles instead of her talent. All of the above is true. And all of it is wrong.

This novel took quite some time for me to finish. That was because I was constantly making notes and doing research on events and places that were unfamiliar. The biggest asset of the novel is the sheer detail. The author has clearly done a huge amount of research. In the Author’s Notes, Murray states that she discovered Jessie while listening to a podcast. But given the detail in the settings, clothing and even the names of the supporting characters, that was clearly just her starting point. She does admit she tweaks the timelines slightly, but it is historical fiction after all.

The plethora of names is also one of the novel’s biggest downfalls. Having so many characters, even minor ones, means that a great portion of the novel is what we would call name-dropping. That also means that there really isn’t much character development aside from the leads. Also limiting character development is a focus with the affair. It feels at times the rhythm is broken with Will’s entrance. Not only was he a distraction to Jessie, he is a distraction to the reader. Lastly, Will is painted as a pretty abhorrent guy. He is arrogant, entitled and in my opinion borderline racist. I understand the man was singularly devoted to his Cause, but in the modern sense some of his actions are just cringy.

This novel will stay with me for some time. It is a reminder that the unsung heroes are just as important as the historical figures we know. Anyone living through history is a part of it. That’s an important reminder for anyone - writer or not. (Not to mention that I now have several pages on things to research.)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early access. All opinions expressed herein are mine.

Thanks to @berkleypub for the free ARC and to @prhaudio for the ALC!

My American history education was sorely lacking (read white-washed) and didn’t include the Harlem Renaissance. I first learned of it through the PBS documentary The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross by Henry Louis Gates. But even then, I don’t remember learning about Jessie Redmon Fauset.

This woman was extraordinary. Her writing and editing abilities shaped the Harlem Renaissance as she was literary editor for WEB DuBois’ magazine, The Struggle. She discovered and encouraged many Black writers such as Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen. She wrote multiple novels, and was at the heart of cultural changes for Black Americans in the 1920s. Yet today she is largely forgotten. And why is that? Because she’s a woman? Probably. But also because she obtained her prestigious position because she was having an affair with DuBois. History does not look favorably on women who “sleep their way to the top,” while men who use s€x to get what they want are celebrated.

And Jessie Redmon Fauset deserves to be lauded. She may have gotten the position so DuBois could have her close by, but she worked hard and made her job into something no one expected from her.

Victoria Christopher Murray delves deep into the mind of Fauset and tries to discover who she was at her core. What were her dreams? How did she justify her affair with a married man? And what were the consequences when she chose to end it?

It’s a fascinating read, superbly written. History came alive for me and characters that had just been names and dates for me before lived and breathed in my imagination.

The narrator was excellent as well. She really brought the emotion and passion that Fauset must have felt to life. Although there were many, many characters, I never felt confused or lost. She made them all distinct.

I highly recommend this book and will be buying a paper copy for my shelf.

This book here. I didn’t know what to expect since it was a historical fiction read and I normally do not gravitate towards those. This was like a soap opera honey and I was here for it.

Synopsis:

In 1919, a high school teacher from Washington, D.C arrives in Harlem excited to realize her lifelong dream. Jessie Redmon Fauset has been named the literary editor of The Crisis. The first Black woman to hold this position at a preeminent Negro magazine, Jessie is poised to achieve literary greatness. But she holds a secret that jeopardizes it all.

W. E. B. Du Bois, the founder of The Crisis, is not only Jessie’s boss, he’s her lover. And neither his wife, nor their fourteen-year-age difference can keep the two apart. Amidst rumors of their tumultuous affair, Jessie is determined to prove herself. She attacks the challenge of discovering young writers with fervor, finding sixteen-year-old Countee Cullen, seventeen-year-old Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen, who becomes one of her best friends. Under Jessie’s leadership, The Crisis thrives…every African American writer in the country wants their work published there.

When her first novel is released to great acclaim, it’s clear that Jessie is at the heart of a renaissance in Black music, theater, and the arts. She has shaped a generation of literary legends, but as she strives to preserve her legacy, she’ll discover the high cost of her unparalleled success.

I previously enjoyed Murray's cowrite The Personal Librarian on Belle da Costa Greene. This was another one on an important literary figure previously tucked away in the shadows of those she circled. It was fascinating to learn about Jessie Fauset and her interactions with so many Harlem Renaissance luminaries and how she fostered the start of their writing careers. Highly recommended for anyone curious to learn more about this era.

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray is a historical fiction romance. A fictional portrayal of Jessie Redmon Faucet whom was an integral part of the Harlem Renaissance. I really enjoyed this read it's not often that I deep dive into historical fiction but when I do I am always so excited to be drawn into the historical aspect of times I only read about and it's so fascinating to get in depth glimpses of those whose lives and careers have made way for us today and beyond.
Even though I was drawn to Jessie's work as the first literary editor for the Crisis and her discovery of some literary greats I was equally intrigued with Jessie's and W. E. B. Dubois relationship and the effects it had on her career.
This book was much slower than I anticipated but Victoria did such an amazing job with details of the city, the history and the characters it made me feel immersed in so much culture.
Overall, I enjoyed the book.. 4 stars and I will recommend to others. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This was my first time reading a historical fiction novel but I have read the author before and was very interested in the subject matter.
It was a bit difficult initially to read about the personal lives of real individuals and not just fictionalized characters even though the interactions were fictionalized. It felt a bit invasive for me but I began to think of them outside of what I knew of them (especially DuBois) and that made it very easy to read.

I appreciated the amount of historical fact that was included in the novel, it made me even more interested in learning about the era and the players who did so much to advance the Black community.

I most enjoyed the main character, Jessie's, path to finding herself and forging a career for herself. As a fan of all things communication, I loved reading about The Crisis and how these vessels were used to inform and uplift and inform the community.

There has to be so much work that goes into ensuring this type of work remains factual while still maintaining creative freedom. Victoria Christopher Murray does a great job of managing that task and creating an entertaining work.

What a gift to dive into the world of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the woman who Langston Hughes called a midwife of the Harlem Renaissance. Victoria Christopher Murray makes 1920s New York spring to life on the page through this powerful story of ambition and love, art and propaganda, passing and activism, and all the complicated intersections therein.

W.E.B. Du Bois is an ever-present part of Jessie's personal and professional life—sometimes with earnest encouragement and sometimes with maddening derision. I was particularly drawn to the scenes in which Jessie fosters of her protégés' careers. Characters like a young Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen sparkle on the page, giving modern readers a taste of what it must have been like to witness the debut and development of literary greats through the pages of The Brownies' Book and The Crisis.

*I received a digital ARC of this novel on NetGalley through the Publishers Weekly Grab a Galley sweepstakes.*

“Harlem Rhapsody” is a captivating narrative that chronicles the extraordinary life of a remarkable woman. The author’s masterful storytelling draws readers in with a few compelling sentences, compelling them to continue reading until the very end.

Harlem Rhapsody gives us an introduction into not only to the Harlem Renaissance but to Jessie Redmon Fauset. Victoria Christopher Murray does an excellent job of bringing Jessie's story to life. Christopher Murray also handled Jessie and W.E.B. Du Bois shocking affair very delicately. The most interesting part of this story is how Jessie discovered so many authors of the Harlem Renaissance like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Nella Larsen. You can picture the sights, sounds, and fashion of Harlem during that time in history. Harlem Rhapsody is a wonderful ode to the Harlem Renaissance and to the writers who shaped it.

READ THIS BOOK! WHAT AMAZING WRITING!!!

I love an amazing historical fiction novel & this one did not disappoint.
The writing is superb and I loved how the author seamlessly wove in all of the great artists of the Harlem Renaissance.

I found myself grossly enraptured in Jessie's story & I loved how it had a bit of a romance aspect to it. I was constantly googling all of the names in this book because some of them were new to me; and I really liked that the author included Langston Hugh's sponsor of sorts (there's another book based on that woman called "Do What Godmother Says" & that's another MUST READ).

Overall, READ THIS BOOK!

Perfect title this is exactly what this was I came here for historical fiction I got that and a love triangle that turned into a rhombus. One thing I loved reading about was the fact that WEB DuBois was literally booked and busy. He traveled across the country to the south, and outside of the country quite a bit. and it was Jesse Redman faucet that held the crisis down the same hose to today where there is there is a woman holding everything together
I can’t lie reading about the affair was a little disturbing and had me asking the question why the story we tell of our past he wrote today always include their infidelities, but in this story, I feel it was necessary to understand their positions, their goals and their successes they would not have occurred to the extent that they did without this affair. I loved reading about the scenery and historical places in Harlem. I ended up going down a rabbit hole googling all the places and addresses and everything I can find out about the Harlem , Jessie, Langston, and especially Jean Toomer (he really didn’t want to be seen as black)and the Congress over in Africa. I especially love the implementation of the poems throughout this story.
This was a glorious time to be black.
Our folks were making history, going to college,well spoken, educated in multiple languages and members of sororities and fraternities. Our heroes were traveling overseas across the country back-and-forth and really had “sponsors” paying for their lifestyles so they could concentrate on their craft.

Harlem Rhapsody is the story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, who worked with W.E.B Du Bois at The Crisis in 1919. W.E.B Du Bois, a famous writer and proponent for civil rights who helped found the NAACP is immortalized in this historical fiction along with Jessie, who is head over heels in love with Du Bois. Jessie signs on to The Crisis and quickly starts uncovering literary talent, such as Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes and Bella Larson. In a time defined by extraordinary racism, and under the leadership of Du Bois, Harlem Rhapsody details these experiences with beautiful clarity and honesty.

This is exactly the type of historical fiction that I love to read! I'm familiar with the works of Du Bois and Hughes, and I was instantly intrigued by the description of this book. A lot of the book focuses on the romance of Jessie and Du Bois, which I was not expecting. It serves as a great introductory title for witnessing this unique time period, and once enjoyed, there are so many works by these fantastic writers to dive into!

A great read, and I think it'll be one of the most memorable historical fictions I've read this year!