The year is 1927, and Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes are feverish with youth, gin, and artistic ambition. They are riding high on the achievements of the Harlem Renaissance-the most dynamic and shocking literary movement in American history. To make their mark on the world, they decide to write an authentic African American opera rooted in the folktales and songs of the South.

Despite these lofty ambitions, the messiness of everyday life and the pressures of patronage get in the way. The blues opera Hughes and Hurston work so hard on never materializes. At first it's simply reduced to a play. Then its very ownership is brought into dispute. Eventually Hughes and Hurston's friendship comes to a final and irreparable end.

Through all their arguments, love affairs, discussions and diversions, the characters work to create a new modernism that is both accessible and relevant to contemporary Black life, and to the generations of readers and writers, artists and poets, both Black and white, to follow.

Harlem Mosaics is a fictional reimagining of true events. In lyrical prose that evokes the heady 1920's, it tells a story that reads as a cautionary tale, a love story, and a social novel, reintroducing us to these brilliant and important artists. The novel includes an introduction by Marc Primus, of the Afro-American Folkloric Troupe, who knew and produced the works of both Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.

The Harlem Renaissance is always in vogue. Add this to the canon of historical imaginations of literary figures. It would pair well with the upcoming novel, "Harlem Rhapsody."

I loved this exploration of literary greats and troubled times/times to keep troubling. I teach a unit on the Harlem Renaissance and would gladly include this.

This was hard for me to get through, but for that reason, it may make a great book club pick.

It's an imaginative retelling of the relationship between Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston as they try to work on individual writing projects and draft a play together under the patronage and interference of a white benefactor.

I am not sure that I get this story, but it did seem to capture the time period (Harlem Renaissance) well (turns of phrase, imagery) and what it might have been like for struggling black artists.

“You’re an odd one, Zora, but I’m sure gonna miss you when you’re down south.”
“Well you need to come join me. Will you?”
“That’s the plan.”

As the publisher’s blurb indicates, this is an imagined tale steeped in actual events between two infamous Harlem Renaissance writers: Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes and their collaborative attempt to compose an opera/play. Any fan of the two knows the outcome was not fruitful and the friendship dissipated and sadly never rekindled.

Fans of the two authors will enjoy the story-within-the-story, the interplay between the two greats, along with a sprinkling of colorful personalities like Charles S. Johnson, Countee Cullen, Wallace Thurman, and others immerses the reader into the era and the issues and politics of the day. Their banter amongst themselves bring forth topics of sexual orientation and preferences, competition from White/Other playwrights profiting on Black culture (think of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess), and white patronage. Other infamous thoughts, ideals and philosophies from noted scholars (Locke, DuBois, etc) are mentioned in the passages to expose their influence on the work of the era’s writers. The dialogue, pacing, and place setting is spot on – When Zora speaks, it mimics her folksy, down-to-earth, no-holds-barred (dare I say brash) Southern vernacular and Langston’s views are similarly expressed in his more refined, pointed, repressed style.

Recommended for Harlem Renaissance fans and those who want to briefly glimpse into the lives of two literary giants.

I became fascinated by the Harlem Renaissance after reading Nella Larsen's Passing a couple of years ago. Harlem Mosaics features two other key figures, Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes, and the story of their on-off collaboration on a blues opera. They're fascinating characters because of their contrasting temperaments and different interests - Zora is a driven researcher and anthropologist, as well as a storyteller, Langston a drifting poet getting by largely on charm.

I like the way the story seamlessly integrates their daily lives, the parties, the gossip, their friendships and rivalries among other real-life authors of the time, with their reflections on their position as politically engaged Black artists. Their patronage from a ghastly wealthy white woman, and the way she exploits her power over them, is also vividly (and with dry humour) portrayed.

Harlem Mosaics captures the perspectives of some of the key figures of the Harlem Renaissance in atmospheric, evocative prose.

LOVE LOVE LOVE. Such a great book. Captured the vibe of this period of history so well. Fell in love with writing too. Fantastic.

If you’ve ever read ‘Zora and Langstom’ by Yuval Taylor, you will get factual information about the lives of Zora and Langston as well as the Godmother and everyone else in their social circle. This book was like a fictional version of Zora and Langston’s relationship, thinking about what their conversations were like when they were friends. Since I am familiar with their history, I just skimmed through the book. But if you like Zora and Langston, this could be a good book for you.

This is a poetic novel about the friendship of Zora Neal Hurston and Langston Hughes, who decide to collaborate on a blues opera. In this story they are both in their early 20's living in NYC in the 1920's. The author does a fantastic job with the dialogue and the imagery of the setting. In several scenes it felt like I was sitting in a chair witnessing the genius of Zora and Langston first hand. I felt like I was breathing the same air as them and laughing along with them as they teased each other with their quick wit. This book was an absolute delight to read from start to finish, I can't recommend it enough.